Binary pesticidal and fungicidal mixtures

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to novel mixtures, to processes for preparing these compounds, to compositions comprising these mixtures, and to the use thereof as biologically active compounds, especially for control of harmful microorganisms or pests in crop protection and in the protection of materials and and for enhancing plant health.

The present invention relates to novel mixtures, to a process forpreparing these mixtures, to compositions comprising these mixtures, andto the use thereof as biologically active mixtures, especially forcontrol of harmful microorganisms or pests in crop protection and in theprotection of materials and for enhancing plant health.

Carboxamides of the general formula

wherein

-   -   R¹ represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group and    -   R² represents a methyl group, a difluoromethyl group or a        trifluoromethyl group        are known as active compounds having a fungicidal effect (cf. WO        1986/02641 A, WO 1992/12970 A, JP 2010-83869, WO 20111/62397 A).

Moreover, it is known that these compounds can be mixed with differentfungicidal and pesticidal active ingredients; resulting compositions arefor example known from WO 2011/135827 A, WO 2011/135828 A, WO2011/135830 A, WO 2011/135831, WO 2011/135832 A, WO 2011/135833 A, WO2011/135834 A, WO 2011/135835 A, WO 2011/135836 A, WO 2011/135837 A, WO2011/135838 A, WO 2011/135839 A, and WO 2011/135840 A.

Since the ecological and economic demands made on modern activeingredients, for example fungicides, are increasing constantly, forexample with respect to activity spectrum, toxicity, selectivity,application rate, formation of residues and favourable manufacture, andthere can also be problems, for example, with resistances, there is aconstant need to develop novel fungicidal compositions which haveadvantages over the known compositions at least in some areas.

It has now surprisingly found out that mixtures comprising at least onecompound of the above-shown formula (I) and at least one furtherinsecticide have a superior efficiency as those mixtures known fromprior art.

The mixtures according to the present invention show a superiorefficiency against harmful microorganisms or pests, in particularphytopathogenic fungi as compared with the compositions known from priorart.

In particular, the mixtures according to the present invention possesspreferably a synergistic effect in their application as a insecticideagainst harmful microorganisms or pests, in particular phytopathogenicfungi.

Furthermore, the mixtures according to the present invention possess asuperior synergistic effect as compared with the known mixtures of theprior art against harmful microorganisms, in particular phytopathogenicfungi or pests.

The mixtures according to the present invention are now described indetail:

The composition according to the present invention comprises

-   -   (1) at least one compound of the general formula (I)

-   -   wherein        -   R¹ represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group and        -   R² represents a methyl group, a difluoromethyl group or a            trifluoromethyl group; and    -   (2) at least one insecticide selected from the group consisting        of Chlorantraniliprole (2.1; CasNo 500008-45-7),        Cyantraniliprole (2.2; CasNo 736994-63-1), Flubendiamide (2.3;        Cas No 272451-65-7),    -   1-(3-chloropyridin-2-yl)-N-[4-cyano-2-methyl-6-(methylcarbamoyl)phenyl]-3-{[5-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-tetrazol-1-yl]methyl1-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide        (2.4; known from WO2010/069502),    -   1-(3-chloropyridin-2-yl)-N-[4-cyano-2-methyl-6-(methylcarbamoyl)phenyl]-3-{[5-(trifluoromethyl)-2H-tetrazol-2-yl]methyl}-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide        (2.5; known from WO2010/069502),    -   N-[2-(tert-butylcarbamoyl)-4-cyano-6-methylphenyl]-1-(3-chloropyridin-2-yl)-3-{[5-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-tetrazol-1        -yl]methyl}-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide (2.6; known from        WO2010/069502),    -   N-[2-(tert-butylcarbamoyl)-4-cyano-6-methylphenyl]-1-(3-chloropyridin-2-yl)-3-{[5-(trifluoromethyl)-2H-tetrazol-2-yl]methyl}-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide        (2.7; known from WO2010/069502),    -   Flupyradifurone (2.8, CasNo 951659-40-8),    -   3-bromo-N-        2-bromo-4-chloro-6-[(1-cyclopropylethyl)carbamoyl]phenyl]-1-(3-chloropyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide        (2.9, known from WO2005/077934),    -   1-{2-fluoro-4-methyl-5-[(2,2,2-trifluorethyl)sulfinyl]phenyl}-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-amine        (2.10; known from WO2006/043635),    -   1-{2-fluoro-4-methyl-5-[(R)-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)sulfinyl]phenyl}-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-amine        (2.11; known from WO2006/043635);    -   1-{2-fluoro-4-methyl-5-[(S)-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)sulfinyl]phenyl}-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-amine        (2.12; known from WO2006/043635).

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to mixture of thecompounds of the formula (I) and a insecticide.

The compounds of the formula (I) are known from prior art; preparationof the compounds thereof is described for example in (cf. WO 1986/02641A, WO 1992/12970 A, JP 2010-83869, WO 2011162397).

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the compound of thegeneral formula (I) is represented by one of the compounds (I-1) to(I-5):

The compound of the general formula (I) is preferably selected form thegroup consisting of the compounds of the formula (I-1), (I-2), and(I-5). More preferably, the compound of the general formula (I) is thecompound of the formula (I-1).

The compound of the formula (I) mentioned as a mandatory part of themixture according to the present invention comprises a stereocentre asshown in the above scheme:

Accordingly, two stereoisomers are known form the compounds of theformula (I) which are all part of the present invention (WO 20111/62397A). Accordingly, the compound of the formula (I) is either representedby

wherein in the compounds of the general formula (I-(R)) and (I-(S)) thespecific residues have the following meaning:

-   -   R¹ represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group and    -   R² represents a methyl group, a difluoromethyl group or a        trifluoromethyl group.

The compound of the formula (I) may be represented by a mixture of thecompounds of the general formulae

(I-(S)) and (I-(R)). However, preferably the enantiomer ratio R form/Sform of the compound of the general formula (I) is 80/20 or more, morepreferably, the enantiomer ratio R form/S form of the compound of thegeneral formula is 90/10 to 10000/1, much more preferably the enantiomerratio R form/S form of the compound of the general formula (I) is 95/5to 10000/1, most preferably the enantiomer ratio R form/S form of thecompound of the general formula (I) is 98/1 to 1000/1.

Taking the preferred definitions of the substituents R¹ and R² mentionedabove into consideration, the compound of the general formula (I) isselected from one of the following compounds

Preferably, the compound of the general formula (I) is selected fromcompound ((I-1(S)), (I-1(R)), ((I-2(S)), (I-2(R)), and ((I-5(S)),(I-5(R)).

More preferably, the compound of the general formula (I) is selectedfrom compound ((I-1(S)) or (I-1(R)).

Binary Pesticidal and Fungicidal Mixtures

The present invention relates to novel mixtures, to a process forpreparing these mixtures, to compositions comprising these mixtures, andto the use thereof as biologically active mixtures, especially forcontrol of harmful microorganisms or pests in crop protection and in theprotection of materials and for enhancing plant health.

Carboxamides of the general formula

wherein

-   -   R¹ represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group and    -   R² represents a methyl group, a difluoromethyl group or a        trifluoromethyl group        are known as active compounds having a fungicidal effect (cf. WO        1986/02641 A, WO 1992/12970 A, JP 2010-83869, WO 20111/62397 A).        It is obvious that they are identical to compounds of        formula (I) shown before.

Moreover, it is known that these compounds can be mixed with differentfungicidal and pesticidal active ingredients; resulting compositions arefor example known from WO 2011/135827 A, WO 2011/135828 A, WO2011/135830 A, WO 2011/135831, WO 2011/135832 A, WO 2011/135833 A, WO2011/135834 A, WO 2011/135835 A, WO 2011/135836 A, WO 2011/135837 A, WO2011/135838 A, WO 2011/135839 A, and WO 2011/135840 A.

Since the ecological and economic demands made on modern activeingredients, for example fungicides, are increasing constantly, forexample with respect to activity spectrum, toxicity, selectivity,application rate, formation of residues and favourable manufacture, andthere can also be problems, for example, with resistances, there is aconstant need to develop novel fungicidal compositions which haveadvantages over the known compositions at least in some areas.

It has now surprisingly found out that mixtures comprising at least onecompound of the above-shown formula (I) and at least one furtherinsecticide have a superior efficiency as those mixtures known fromprior art.

The mixtures according to the present invention show a superiorefficiency against harmful microorganisms or pests, in particularphytopathogenic fungi as compared with the compositions known from priorart.

In particular, the mixtures according to the present invention possesspreferably a synergistic effect in their application as a insecticideagainst harmful microorganisms or pests, in particular phytopathogenicfungi.

Furthermore, the mixtures according to the present invention possess asuperior synergistic effect as compared with the known mixtures of theprior art against harmful microorganisms, in particular phytopathogenicfungi or pests.

The mixtures according to the present invention are now described indetail:

The composition according to the present invention comprises

-   -   (1) at least one compound of the general formula (I)

-   -   -   wherein            -   R¹ represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group and            -   R² represents a methyl group, a difluoromethyl group or                a trifluoromethyl group; and

    -   (2) at least one insecticide selected from the group consisting        of Chlorantraniliprole (2.1; CasNo 500008-45-7),        Cyantraniliprole (2.2; CasNo 736994-63-1), Flubendiamide (2.3;        Cas No 272451-65-7),

    -   1-(3-chloropyridin-2-yl)-N-[4-cyano-2-methyl-6-(methylcarbamoyl)phenyl]-3-{[5-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-tetrazol-1-yl]methyl}-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide        (2.4; known from WO2010/069502),

    -   1-(3-chloropyridin-2-yl)-N-[4-cyano-2-methyl-6-(methylcarbamoyl)phenyl]-3-{[5-(trifluoromethyl)-2H-tetrazol-2-yl]methyl}-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide        (2.5; known from WO2010/069502),

    -   N-[2-(tert-butylcarbamoyl)-4-cyano-6-methylphenyl]-1-(3-chloropyridin-2-yl)-3-{[5-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-tetrazol-1-yl]methyl}-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide        (2.6; known from WO2010/069502),

    -   N-[2-(tert-butylcarbamoyl)-4-cyano-6-methylphenyl]-1-(3-chloropyridin-2-yl)-3-{[5-(trifluoromethyl)-2H-tetrazol-2-yl]methyl}-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide        (2.7; known from WO2010/069502),

    -   Flupyradifurone (2.8, CasNo 951659-40-8),

    -   3-bromo-N-{2-bromo-4-chloro-6-[(1-cyclopropylethyl)carbamoyl]phenyl}-1-(3-chloropyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide        (2.9, known from WO2005/077934),

    -   1-{2-fluoro-4-methyl-5-[(2,2,2-trifluorethyl)sulfinyl]phenyl}-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-amine        (2.10; known from WO2006/043635),

    -   1-{2-fluoro-4-methyl-5-[(R)-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)sulfinyl]phenyl}-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-amine        (2.11; known from WO2006/043635);

    -   1-{2-fluoro-4-methyl-5-[(S)-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)sulfinyl]phenyl}-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-amine        (2.12; known from WO2006/043635).

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to mixture of thecompounds of the formula (I) and a insecticide.

The compounds of the formula (I) are known from prior art; preparationof the compounds thereof is described for example in (cf. WO 1986/02641A, WO 1992/12970 A, JP 2010-83869, WO 2011162397).

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the compound of thegeneral formula (I) is represented by one of the compounds (I-1) to(I-5):

The compound of the general formula (I) is preferably selected form thegroup consisting of the compounds of the formula (I-1), (I-2), and(I-5). More preferably, the compound of the general formula (I) is thecompound of the formula (I-1).

The compound of the formula (I) mentioned as a mandatory part of themixture according to the present invention comprises a stereocentre asshown in the above scheme:

Accordingly, two stereoisomers are known form the compounds of theformula (I) which are all part of the present invention (WO 20111/62397A). Accordingly, the compound of the formula (I) is either representedby

wherein in the compounds of the general formula (I-(R)) and (I-(S)) thespecific residues have the following meaning:

-   -   R¹ represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group and    -   R² represents a methyl group, a difluoromethyl group or a        trifluoromethyl group.

The compound of the formula (I) may be represented by a mixture of thecompounds of the general formulae (I-(S)) and (I-(R)). However,preferably the enantiomer ratio R form/S form of the compound of thegeneral formula (I) is 80/20 or more, more preferably, the enantiomerratio R form/S form of the compound of the general formula is 90/10 to10000/1, much more preferably the enantiomer ratio R form/S form of thecompound of the general formula (I) is 95/5 to 10000/1, most preferablythe enantiomer ratio R form/S form of the compound of the generalformula (I) is 98/1 to 1000/1.

Taking the preferred definitions of the substituents R¹ and R² mentionedabove into consideration, the compound of the general formula (I) isselected from one of the following compounds

Preferably, the compound of the general formula (I) is selected fromcompound ((I-1(S)), (I-1(R)), ((I-2(S)), (I-2(R)), and ((I-5(S)),(I-5(R)).

More preferably, the compound of the general formula (I) is selectedfrom compound ((I-1(S)) or (I-1(R)).

The compounds of the formula (I) are mixed with (2) at least oneinsecticide.

Preferably, the compounds of the formula (I) are mixed with oneinsecticide.

The insecticides are selected from the group consisting ofChlorantraniliprole (2.1; CasNo 500008-45-7), Cyantraniliprole (2.2;CasNo 736994-63-1), Flubendiamide (2.3; CasNo 272451-65-7),

1-(3-chloropyridin-2-yl)-N-[4-cyano-2-methyl-6-(methylcarbamoyl)phenyl]-3-{[5-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-tetrazol-1-yl]methyl}-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide(2.4; known from WO2010/069502),

1-(3-chloropyridin-2-yl)-N-[4-cyano-2-methyl-6-(methylcarbamoyl)phenyl]-3-{[5-(trifluoromethyl)-2H-tetrazol-2-yl]methyl}-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide(2.5; known from WO2010/069502),

N-[2-(tert-butylcarbamoyl)-4-cyano-6-methylphenyl]-1-(3-chloropyridin-2-yl)-3-{[5-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-tetrazol-1-yl]methyl}-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide(2.6; known from WO2010/069502),

N-[2-(tert-butylcarbamoyl)-4-cyano-6-methylphenyl]-1-(3-chloropyridin-2-yl)-3-{[5-(trifluoromethyl)-2H-tetrazol-2-yl]methyl}-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide(2.7; known from WO2010/069502),

Flupyradifurone (2.8, CasNo 951659-40-8),

3-bromo-N-{2-bromo-4-chloro-6-[(1-cyclopropylethyl)carbamoyl]phenyl}-1-(3-chloropyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide(2.9, known from WO2005/077934),

1-{2-fluoro-4-methyl-5-[(2,2,2-trifluorethyl)sulfinyl]phenyl}-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-amine(2.10; known from WO2006/043635),

1-{2-fluoro-4-methyl-5-[(R)-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)sulfinyl]phenyl}-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-amine(2.11; known from WO2006/043635);

1-{2-fluoro-4-methyl-5-[(S)-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)sulfinyl]phenyl}-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-amine(2.12; known from WO2006/043635).

The compounds of the formula (I) and the compounds (II) of the mixtureor composition according to the present invention can be combined in anyspecific ratio between this two mandatory components. In the mixtures orcompositions according to the invention the compounds of the generalformula (I) and compounds (II) are present in a synergisticallyeffective weight ratio of (I):(II) in a range of 1000:1 to 1:1000,preferably in a weight ratio of 500:1 to 1:500, most preferably in aweight ratio of 100:1 to 1:100. Further ratios of (I):(II) which can beused according to the present invention with increasing preferences theorder given are: 800:1 to 1:800, 700:1 to 1:700, 750:1 to 1:750, 600:1to 1:600, 400:1 to 1:400, 300:1 to 1:300, 250:1 to 1:250, 200:1 to1:200, 95:1 to 1:95, 90:1 to 1:90, 85:1 to 1:85, 80:1 to 1:80, 75:1 to1:75, 70:1 to 1:70, 65:1 to 1:65, 60:1 to 1:60, 55:1 to 1:55, 45:1 to1:45, 40:1 to 1:40, 35:1 to 1:35, 30:1 to 1:30, 25:1 to 1:25, 20:1 to1:20, 15:1 to 1:15, 10:1 to 1:10, 5:1 to 1:5, 4:1 to 1:4, 3:1 to 1:3,2:1 to 1:2.

Following combinations exemplify specific embodiments of the mixtureaccording to the present invention:¹

Compound Compound of the formula (I) Insecticides of the formula (I)Insecticides (I-1(S)) (2-1) (I-1(R)) (2-1) (I-1(S)) (2-2) (I-1(R)) (2-2)(I-1(S)) (2-3) (I-1(R)) (2-3) (I-1(S)) (2-4) (I-1(R)) (2-4) (I-1(S))(2-5) (I-1(R)) (2-5) (I-1(S)) (2-6) (I-1(R)) (2-6) (I-1(S)) (2-7)(I-1(R)) (2-7) (I-1(S)) (2-8) (I-1(R)) (2-8) (I-1(S)) (2-9) (I-1(R))(2-9) (I-1(S)) (2-10) (I-1(R)) (2-10) (I-1(S)) (2-11) (I-1(R)) (2-11)(I-1(S)) (2-12) (I-1(R)) (2-12) (I-2(S)) (2-1) (I-2(R)) (2-1) (I-2(S))(2-2) (I-2(R)) (2-2) (I-2(S)) (2-3) (I-2(R)) (2-3) (I-2(S)) (2-4)(I-2(R)) (2-4) (I-2(S)) (2-5) (I-2(R)) (2-5) (I-2(S)) (2-6) (I-2(R))(2-6) (I-2(S)) (2-7) (I-2(R)) (2-7) (I-2(S)) (2-8) (I-2(R)) (2-8)(I-2(S)) (2-9) (I-2(R)) (2-9) (I-2(S)) (2-10) (I-2(R)) (2-10) (I-2(S))(2-11) (I-2(R)) (2-11) (I-2(S)) (2-12) (I-2(R)) (2-12) (I-3(S)) (2-1)(I-3(R)) (2-1) (I-3(S)) (2-2) (I-3(R)) (2-2) (I-3(S)) (2-3) (I-3(R))(2-3) (I-3(S)) (2-4) (I-3(R)) (2-4) (I-3(S)) (2-5) (I-3(R)) (2-5)(I-3(S)) (2-6) (I-3(R)) (2-6) (I-3(S)) (2-7) (I-3(R)) (2-7) (I-3(S))(2-8) (I-3(R)) (2-8) (I-3(S)) (2-9) (I-3(R)) (2-9) (I-3(S)) (2-10)(I-3(R)) (2-10) (I-3(S)) (2-11) (I-3(R)) (2-11) (I-3(S)) (2-12) (I-3(R))(2-12) (I-4(S)) (2-1) (I-4(R)) (2-1) (I-4(S)) (2-2) (I-4(R)) (2-2)(I-4(S)) (2-3) (I-4(R)) (2-3) (I-4(S)) (2-4) (I-4(R)) (2-4) (I-4(S))(2-5) (I-4(R)) (2-5) (I-4(S)) (2-6) (I-4(R)) (2-6) (I-4(S)) (2-7)(I-4(R)) (2-7) (I-4(S)) (2-8) (I-4(R)) (2-8) (I-4(S)) (2-9) (I-4(R))(2-9) (I-4(S)) (2-10) (I-4(R)) (2-10) (I-4(S)) (2-11) (I-4(R)) (2-11)(I-4(S)) (2-12) (I-4(R)) (2-12) (I-5(S)) (2-1) (I-5(R)) (2-1) (I-5(S))(2-2) (I-5(R)) (2-2) (I-5(S)) (2-3) (I-5(R)) (2-3) (I-5(S)) (2-4)(I-5(R)) (2-4) (I-5(S)) (2-5) (I-5(R)) (2-5) (I-5(S)) (2-6) (I-5(R))(2-6) (I-5(S)) (2-7) (I-5(R)) (2-7) (I-5(S)) (2-8) (I-5(R)) (2-8)(I-5(S)) (2-9) (I-5(R)) (2-9) (I-5(S)) (2-10) (I-5(R)) (2-10) (I-5(S))(2-11) (I-5(R)) (2-11) (I-5(S)) (2-12) (I-5(R)) (2-12)

Although the mixture according to the present invention may be acomposition itself, the final used composition is usually prepared bymixing the compounds of the formula (I) with the and at least oneinsecticide, and an inert carrier, and if necessary, by adding asurfactant and/or another auxiliary for formulation, such as anextender, and by formulating the mixture into oil formulation,emulsifiable concentrate, flowable formulation, wettable powder, waterdispersible granules, powder, granules, or the like. The formulation,which is used alone or by adding another inert component, can be used asa pesticide.

Specific further components of this final composition are describedlater.

The “composition” can be prepared by formulating the compounds of theformula (I) and at least one insecticide as described in the above, andthen making the formulations or their diluents.

For the sake of clearness, a mixture means a physical combination of thecompounds of the formula (I) and at least one insecticide, whereas acomposition means a combination of the mixture together with furtheradditives, such as surfactants, solvents, carriers, pigments, antifoams,thickeners and extenders, in a form as suitable for agrochemicalapplication.

Accordingly, the present invention also relates compositions forcontrolling harmful microorganisms, especially harmful fungi andbacteria, comprising an effective and non-phytotoxic amount of theinventive mixtures. These are preferably fungicidal compositions whichcomprise agriculturally suitable auxiliaries, solvents, carriers,surfactants or extenders.

In the context of the present invention, “control of harmfulmicroorganisms” means a reduction in infestation by harmfulmicroorganisms, compared with the untreated plant measured as fungicidalefficacy, preferably a reduction by 25-50%, compared with the untreatedplant (100%), more preferably a reduction by 40-79%, compared with theuntreated plant (100%); even more preferably, the infection by harmfulmicroorganisms is entirely suppressed (by 70-100%). The control may becurative, i.e. for treatment of already infected plants, or protective,for protection of plants which have not yet been infected.

Accordingly, the present invention also relates compositions forcontrolling pests, especially harmful insects, mites, arachnids andnematodes, comprising an effective and non-phytotoxic amount of theinventive mixtures or compositions. These are preferably pesticidalcompositions which comprise agriculturally suitable auxiliaries,solvents, carriers, surfactants or extenders.

In the context of the present invention, “control of pests” means areduction in infestation by pests, compared with the untreated plantmeasured as pesticidal efficacy, preferably a reduction by 25-50%,compared with the untreated plant (100%), more preferably a reduction by40-79%, compared with the untreated plant (100%); even more preferably,the infection by pests is entirely suppressed (by 70-100%). The controlmay be curative, i.e. for treatment of already infected plants, orprotective, for protection of plants which have not yet been infected.

The present invention also relates to a method for controlling pests,comprising contacting said pests or their habitat with theabove-described composition.

An “effective but non-phytotoxic amount” means an amount of theinventive composition which is sufficient to control the fungal diseaseof the plant in a satisfactory manner or to eradicate the fungal diseasecompletely, and which, at the same time, does not cause any significantsymptoms of phytotoxicity. In general, this application rate may varywithin a relatively wide range. It depends on several factors, forexample on the fungus to be controlled, the plant, the climaticconditions and the ingredients of the inventive compositions.

The present invention relates further to a method for treating seeds,comprising contacting said seeds with the above-described composition.

Finally, the present invention also relates to seed treated with theabove-mentioned composition

Formulations

Suitable organic solvents include all polar and non-polar organicsolvents usually employed for formulation purposes. Preferable thesolvents are selected from ketones, e.g. methyl-isobutyl-ketone andcyclohexanone, amides, e.g. dimethyl formamide and alkanecarboxylic acidamides, e.g. N,N-dimethyl decane-amide and N,N-dimethyl octanamide,furthermore cyclic solvents, e.g. N-methyl-pyrrolidone,N-octyl-pyrrolidone, N-dodecyl-pyrrolidone, N-octyl-caprolactame,N-dodecyl-caprolactame and butyrolactone, furthermore strong polarsolvents, e.g. dimethylsulfoxide, and aromatic hydrocarbons, e.g. xylol,Solvesso™, mineral oils, e.g. white spirit, petroleum, alkyl benzenesand spindle oil, also esters, e.g. propyleneglycol-monomethyletheracetate, adipic acid dibutylester, acetic acid hexylester, acetic acidheptylester, citric acid tri-n-butylester and phthalic aciddi-n-butylester, and also alkohols, e.g. benzyl alcohol and1-methoxy-2-propanol.

According to the invention, a carrier is a natural or synthetic, organicor inorganic substance with which the active ingredients are mixed orcombined for better applicability, in particular for application toplants or plant parts or seed. The carrier, which may be solid orliquid, is generally inert and should be suitable for use inagriculture.

Useful solid or liquid carriers include: for example ammonium salts andnatural rock dusts, such as kaolins, clays, talc, chalk, quartz,attapulgite, montmorillonite or diatomaceous earth, and synthetic rockdusts, such as finely divided silica, alumina and natural or syntheticsilicates, resins, waxes, solid fertilizers, water, alcohols, especiallybutanol, organic solvents, mineral and vegetable oils, and derivativesthereof. Mixtures of such carriers can likewise be used.

Suitable solid filler and carrier include inorganic particles, e.g.carbonates, silikates, sulphates and oxides with an average particlesize of between 0.005 and 20 μm, preferably of between 0.02 to 10 μm,for example ammonium sulphate, ammonium phosphate, urea, calciumcarbonate, calcium sulphate, magnesium sulphate, magnesium oxide,aluminium oxide, silicium dioxide, so-called fine-particle silica,silica gels, natural or synthetic silicates, and alumosilicates andplant products like cereal flour, wood powder/sawdust and cellulosepowder.

Useful solid carriers for granules include: for example crushed andfractionated natural rocks such as calcite, marble, pumice, sepiolite,dolomite, and synthetic granules of inorganic and organic meals, andalso granules of organic material such as sawdust, coconut shells, maizecobs and tobacco stalks.

Useful liquefied gaseous extenders or carriers are those liquids whichare gaseous at standard temperature and under standard pressure, forexample aerosol propellants such as halohydrocarbons, and also butane,propane, nitrogen and carbon dioxide.

In the formulations, it is possible to use tackifiers such ascarboxymethylcellulose, and natural and synthetic polymers in the formof powders, granules or latices, such as gum arabic, polyvinyl alcoholand polyvinyl acetate, or else natural phospholipids, such as cephalinsand lecithins, and synthetic phospholipids. Further additives may bemineral and vegetable oils.

If the extender used is water, it is also possible to employ, forexample, organic solvents as auxiliary solvents. Useful liquid solventsare essentially: aromatics such as xylene, toluene or alkylnaphthalenes,chlorinated aromatics and chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons such aschlorobenzenes, chloroethylenes or dichloromethane, aliphatichydrocarbons such as cyclohexane or paraffins, for example mineral oilfractions, mineral and vegetable oils, alcohols such as butanol orglycol and their ethers and esters, ketones such as acetone, methylethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone or cyclohexanone, strongly polarsolvents such as dimethylformamide and dimethyl sulphoxide, and alsowater.

The inventive compositions may additionally comprise further components,for example surfactants. Useful surfactants are emulsifiers and/or foamformers, dispersants or wetting agents having ionic or nonionicproperties, or mixtures of these surfactants. Examples of these aresalts of polyacrylic acid, salts of lignosulphonic acid, salts ofphenolsulphonic acid or naphthalenesulphonic acid, polycondensates ofethylene oxide with fatty alcohols or with fatty acids or with fattyamines, substituted phenols (preferably alkylphenols or arylphenols),salts of sulphosuccinic esters, taurine derivatives (preferably alkyltaurates), phosphoric esters of polyethoxylated alcohols or phenols,fatty esters of polyols, and derivatives of the compounds containingsulphates, sulphonates and phosphates, for example alkylaryl polyglycolethers, alkylsulphonates, alkylsulphates, arylsulphonates, proteinhydrolysates, lignosulphite waste liquors and methylcellulose. Thepresence of a surfactant is necessary if one of the active ingredientsand/or one of the inert carriers is insoluble in water and whenapplication is effected in water. The proportion of surfactants isbetween 5 and 40 per cent by weight of the inventive composition.

Suitable surfactants (adjuvants, emulsifiers, dispersants, protectivecolloids, wetting agent and adhesive) include all common ionic andnon-ionic substances, for example ethoxylated nonylphenols, polyalkyleneglycolether of linear or branched alcohols, reaction products of alkylphenols with ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide, reaction products offatty acid amines with ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide,furthermore fattic acid esters, alkyl sulfonates, alkyl sulphates, alkylethersulphates, alkyl etherphosphates, arylsulphate, ethoxylatedarylalkylphenols, e.g. tristyryl-phenol-ethoxylates, furthermoreethoxylated and propoxylated arylalkylphenols like sulphated orphosphated arylalkylphenol-ethoxylates and -ethoxy- and -propoxylates.Further examples are natural and synthetic, water soluble polymers, e.g.lignosulphonates, gelatine, gum arabic, phospholipides, starch,hydrophobic modified starch and cellulose derivatives, in particularcellulose ester and cellulose ether, further polyvinyl alcohol,polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyacrylic acid,polymethacrylic acid and co-polymerisates of (meth)acrylic acid and(meth)acrylic acid esters, and further co-polymerisates of methacrylicacid and methacrylic acid esters which are neutralized with alkalimetalhydroxide and also condensation products of optionally substitutednaphthalene sulfonic acid salts with formaldehyde.

It is possible to use dyes such as inorganic pigments, for example ironoxide, titanium oxide and Prussian Blue, and organic dyes such asalizarin dyes, azo dyes and metal phthalocyanine dyes, and tracenutrients such as salts of iron, manganese, boron, copper, cobalt,molybdenum and zinc.

Antifoams which may be present in the formulations include e.g. siliconeemulsions, longchain alcohols, fatty acids and their salts as well asfluoroorganic substances and mixtures thereof.

Examples of thickeners are polysaccharides, e.g. xanthan gum or veegum,silicates, e g attapulgite, bentonite as well as fine-particle silica.

If appropriate, it is also possible for other additional components tobe present, for example protective colloids, binders, adhesives,thickeners, thixotropic substances, penetrants, stabilizers,sequestrants, complexing agents. In general, the active ingredients canbe combined with any solid or liquid additive commonly used forformulation purposes.

The inventive mixtures or compositions can be used as such or, dependingon their particular physical and/or chemical properties, in the form oftheir formulations or the use forms prepared therefrom, such asaerosols, capsule suspensions, cold-fogging concentrates, warm-foggingconcentrates, encapsulated granules, fine granules, flowableconcentrates for the treatment of seed, ready-to-use solutions, dustablepowders, emulsifiable concentrates, oil-in-water emulsions, water-in-oilemulsions, macrogranules, microgranules, oil-dispersible powders,oil-miscible flowable concentrates, oil-miscible liquids, gas (underpressure), gas generating product, foams, pastes, pesticide coated seed,suspension concentrates, suspoemulsion concentrates, solubleconcentrates, suspensions, wettable powders, soluble powders, dusts andgranules, water-soluble and water-dispersible granules or tablets,water-soluble and water-dispersible powders for the treatment of seed,wettable powders, natural products and synthetic substances impregnatedwith active ingredient, and also microencapsulations in polymericsubstances and in coating materials for seed, and also ULV cold-foggingand warm-fogging formulations.

The inventive compositions include not only formulations which arealready ready for use and can be applied with a suitable apparatus tothe plant or the seed, but also commercial concentrates which have to bediluted with water prior to use. Customary applications are for exampledilution in water and subsequent spraying of the resulting spray liquor,application after dilution in oil, direct application without dilution,seed treatment or soil application of granules.

The inventive mixtures, compositions and formulations generally containbetween 0.05 and 99% by weight, 0.01 and 98% by weight, preferablybetween 0.1 and 95% by weight, more preferably between 0.5 and 90% ofactive ingredient, most preferably between 10 and 70% by weight. Forspecial applications, e.g. for protection of wood and derived timberproducts the inventive mixtures, compositions and formulations generallycontain between 0.0001 and 95% by weight, preferably 0.001 to 60% byweight of active ingredient.

The contents of active ingredient in the application forms prepared fromthe formulations may vary in a broad range. The concentration of theactive ingredients in the application forms is generally between0.000001 to 95% by weight, preferably between 0.0001 and 2% by weight.

The formulations mentioned can be prepared in a manner known per se, forexample by mixing the active ingredients with at least one customaryextender, solvent or diluent, adjuvant, emulsifier, dispersant, and/orbinder or fixative, wetting agent, water repellent, if appropriatedesiccants and UV stabilizers and, if appropriate, dyes and pigments,antifoams, preservatives, inorganic and organic thickeners, adhesives,gibberellins and also further processing auxiliaries and also water.Depending on the formulation type to be prepared further processingsteps are necessary, e.g. wet grinding, dry grinding and granulation.

The inventive mixtures or compositions may be present as such or intheir (commercial) formulations and in the use forms prepared from theseformulations as a mixture with other (known) active ingredients, such asinsecticides, attractants, sterilants, bactericides, acaricides,nematicides, fungicides, growth regulators, herbicides, fertilizers,safeners and/or semiochemicals.

The inventive treatment of the plants and plant parts with the mixturesor compositions is effected directly or by action on their surroundings,habitat or storage space by the customary treatment methods, for exampleby dipping, spraying, atomizing, irrigating, evaporating, dusting,fogging, broadcasting, foaming, painting, spreading-on, watering(drenching), drip irrigating and, in the case of propagation material,especially in the case of seeds, also by dry seed treatment, wet seedtreatment, slurry treatment, incrustation, coating with one or morecoats, etc. It is also possible to deploy the mixtures or compositionsby the ultra-low volume method or to inject the mixtures or compositionspreparation or the mixtures or compositions itself into the soil.

Plant/Crop Protection

The inventive mixtures or compositions have potent microbicidal activityand can be used for control of harmful microorganisms, such asphytopathogenic fungi and bacteria, in crop protection and in theprotection of materials.

The invention also relates to a method for controlling harmfulmicroorganisms, characterized in that the inventive mixtures orcompositions are applied to the phytopathogenic fungi, phytopathogenicbacteria and/or their habitat.

Fungicides can be used in crop protection for control of phytopathogenicfungi. They are characterized by an outstanding efficacy against a broadspectrum of phytopathogenic fungi, including soilborne pathogens, whichare in particular members of the classes Plasmodiophoromycetes,Peronosporomycetes (Syn. Oomycetes), Chytridiomycetes, Zygomycetes,Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes and Deuteromycetes (Syn. Fungi imperfecta).Some fungicides are systemically active and can be used in plantprotection as foliar, seed dressing or soil fungicide. Furthermore, theyare suitable for combating fungi, which inter alia infest wood or rootsof plant.

Bactericides can be used in crop protection for control ofPseudomonadaceae, Rhizobiaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, Corynebacteriaceaeand Streptomycetaceae.

Non-limiting examples of pathogens of fungal diseases which can betreated in accordance with the invention include:

diseases caused by powdery mildew pathogens, for example Blumeriaspecies, for example Blumeria graminis; Podosphaera species, for examplePodosphaera leucotricha; Sphaerotheca species, for example Sphaerothecafuliginea; Uncinula species, for example Uncinula necator;

diseases caused by rust disease pathogens, for example Gymnosporangiumspecies, for example Gymnosporangium sabinae; Hemileia species, forexample Hemileia vastatrix; Phakopsora species, for example Phakopsorapachyrhizi and Phakopsora meibomiae; Puccinia species, for examplePuccinia recondite, P. triticina, P. graminis or P. striiformis;Uromyces species, for example Uromyces appendiculatus;

diseases caused by pathogens from the group of the Oomycetes, forexample Albugo species, for example Algubo candida; Bremia species, forexample Bremia lactucae; Peronospora species, for example Peronosporapisi or P. brassicae; Phytophthora species, for example Phytophthorainfestans; Plasmopara species, for example Plasmopara viticola;Pseudoperonospora species, for example Pseudoperonospora humuli orPseudoperonospora cubensis; Pythium species, for example Pythiumultimum;

leaf blotch diseases and leaf wilt diseases caused, for example, byAlternaria species, for example Alternaria solani; Cercospora species,for example Cercospora beticola; Cladiosporium species, for exampleCladiosporium cucumerinum; Cochliobolus species, for exampleCochliobolus sativus (conidia form: Drechslera, Syn: Helminthosporium),Cochliobolus miyabeanus; Colletotrichum species, for exampleColletotrichum lindemuthanium; Cycloconium species, for exampleCycloconium oleaginum; Diaporthe species, for example Diaporthe citri;Elsinoe species, for example Elsinoe fawcettii; Gloeosporium species,for example Gloeosporium laeticolor; Glomerella species, for exampleGlomerella cingulata; Guignardia species, for example Guignardiabidwelli; Leptosphaeria species, for example Leptosphaeria macularis,Leptosphaeria nodorum; Magnaporthe species, for example Magnaporthegrisea; Microdochium species, for example Microdochium nivale;Mycosphaerella species, for example Mycosphaerella graminicola, M.arachidicola and M. fijiensis; Phaeosphaeria species, for examplePhaeosphaeria nodorum; Pyrenophora species, for example Pyrenophorateres, Pyrenophora tritici repentis; Ramularia species, for exampleRamularia collo-cygni, Ramularia areola; Rhynchosporium species, forexample Rhynchosporium secalis; Septoria species, for example Septoriaapii, Septoria lycopersii; Typhula species, for example Typhulaincarnata; Venturia species, for example Venturia inaequalis;

root and stem diseases caused, for example, by Corticium species, forexample Corticium graminearum; Fusarium species, for example Fusariumoxysporum; Gaeumannomyces species, for example Gaeumannomyces graminis;Rhizoctonia species, such as, for example Rhizoctonia solani;Sarocladium diseases caused for example by Sarocladium oryzae;Sclerotium diseases caused for example by Sclerotium oryzae; Tapesiaspecies, for example Tapesia acufomis; Thielaviopsis species, forexample Thielaviopsis basicola;

ear and panicle diseases (including corn cobs) caused, for example, byAlternaria species, for example Alternaria spp.; Aspergillus species,for example Aspergillus flavus; Cladosporium species, for exampleCladosporium cladosporioides; Claviceps species, for example Clavicepspurpurea; Fusarium species, for example Fusarium culmorum; Gibberellaspecies, for example Gibberella zeae; Monographella species, for exampleMonographella nivalis; Septoria species, for example Septoria nodorum;

diseases caused by smut fungi, for example Sphacelotheca species, forexample Sphacelotheca reiliana; Tilletia species, for example Tilletiacaries, T. controversa; Urocystis species, for example Urocystisocculta; Ustilago species, for example Ustilago nuda, U. nuda tritici;

fruit rot caused, for example, by Aspergillus species, for exampleAspergillus flavus; Botrytis species, for example Botrytis cinerea;Penicillium species, for example Penicillium expansum and P.purpurogenum; Sclerotinia species, for example Sclerotinia sclerotiorum;Verticilium species, for example Verticilium alboatrum;

seed and soilborne decay, mould, wilt, rot and damping-off diseasescaused, for example, by Alternaria species, caused for example byAlternaria brassicicola; Aphanomyces species, caused for example byAphanomyces euteiches; Ascochyta species, caused for example byAscochyta lentis; Aspergillus species, caused for example by Aspergillusflavus; Cladosporium species, caused for example by Cladosporiumherbarum; Cochliobolus species, caused for example by Cochliobolussativus; (Conidiaform: Drechslera, Bipolaris Syn: Helminthosporium);Colletotrichum species, caused for example by Colletotrichum coccodes;Fusarium species, caused for example by Fusarium culmorum; Gibberellaspecies, caused for example by Gibberella zeae; Macrophomina species,caused for example by Macrophomina phaseolina; Monographella species,caused for example by Monographella nivalis; Penicillium species, causedfor example by Penicillium expansum; Phoma species, caused for exampleby Phoma lingam; Phomopsis species, caused for example by Phomopsissojae; Phytophthora species, caused for example by Phytophthoracactorum; Pyrenophora species, caused for example by Pyrenophoragraminea; Pyricularia species, caused for example by Pyricularia oryzae;Pythium species, caused for example by Pythium ultimum; Rhizoctoniaspecies, caused for example by Rhizoctonia solani; Rhizopus species,caused for example by Rhizopus oryzae; Sclerotium species, caused forexample by Sclerotium rolfsii; Septoria species, caused for example bySeptoria nodorum; Typhula species, caused for example by Typhulaincarnata; Verticillium species, caused for example by Verticilliumdahliae;

cancers, galls and witches' broom caused, for example, by Nectriaspecies, for example Nectria galligena;

wilt diseases caused, for example, by Monilinia species, for exampleMonilinia laxa;

leaf blister or leaf curl diseases caused, for example, by Exobasidiumspecies, for example Exobasidium vexans;

Taphrina species, for example Taphrina deformans;

decline diseases of wooden plants caused, for example, by Esca disease,caused for example by Phaemoniella clamydospora, Phaeoacremoniumaleophilum and Fomitiporia mediterranea; Eutypa dyeback, caused forexample by Eutypa lata; Ganoderma diseases caused for example byGanoderma boninense; Rigidoporus diseases caused for example byRigidoporus lignosus;

diseases of flowers and seeds caused, for example, by Botrytis species,for example Botrytis cinerea;

diseases of plant tubers caused, for example, by Rhizoctonia species,for example Rhizoctonia solani; Helminthosporium species, for exampleHelminthosporium solani;

Club root caused, for example, by Plasmodiophora species, for examplePlamodiophora brassicae;

diseases caused by bacterial pathogens, for example Xanthomonas species,for example Xanthomonas campestris pv. oryzae; Pseudomonas species, forexample Pseudomonas syringae pv. lachrymans; Erwinia species, forexample Erwinia amylovora.

The following diseases of soybeans can be controlled with preference:

Fungal diseases on leaves, stems, pods and seeds caused, for example, byAlternaria leaf spot (Alternaria spec. atrans tenuissima), Anthracnose(Colletotrichum gloeosporoides dematium var. truncatum), brown spot(Septoria glycines), cercospora leaf spot and blight (Cercosporakikuchii), choanephora leaf blight (choanephora infundibulifera trispora(Syn.)), dactuliophora leaf spot (Dactuliophora glycines), downy mildew(Peronospora manshurica), drechslera blight (Drechslera glycini),frogeye leaf spot (Cercospora sojina), leptosphaerulina leaf spot(Leptosphaerulina trifolii), phyllostica leaf spot (Phyllostictasojaecola), pod and stem blight (Phomopsis sojae), powdery mildew(Microsphaera diffusa), pyrenochaeta leaf spot (Pyrenochaeta glycines),rhizoctonia aerial, foliage, and web blight (Rhizoctonia solani), rust(Phakopsora pachyrhizi, Phakopsora meibomiae), scab (Sphacelomaglycines), stemphylium leaf blight (Stemphylium bottyosum), target spot(Corynespora cassiicola).

Fungal diseases on roots and the stem base caused, for example, by blackroot rot (Calonectria crotalariae), charcoal rot (Macrophominaphaseolina), fusarium blight or wilt, root rot, and pod and collar rot(Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium orthoceras, Fusarium semitectum, Fusariumequiseti), mycoleptodiscus root rot (Mycoleptodiscus terrestris),neocosmospora (Neocosmospora vasinfecta), pod and stem blight (Diaporthephaseolorum), stem canker (Diaporthe phaseolorum var. caulivora),phytophthora rot (Phytophthora megasperma), brown stem rot (Phialophoragregata), pythium rot (Pythium aphanidermatum, Pythium irregulars,Pythium debaryanum, Pythium myriotylum, Pythium ultimum), rhizoctoniaroot rot, stem decay, and damping-off (Rhizoctonia solani), sclerotiniastem decay (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum), sclerotinia southern blight(Sclerotinia rolfsii), thielaviopsis root rot (Thielaviopsis basicola).

The inventive fungicidal mixtures or compositions can be used forcurative or protective/preventive control of phytopathogenic fungi. Theinvention therefore also relates to curative and protective methods forcontrolling phytopathogenic fungi by the use of the inventive mixturesor compositions, which are applied to the seed, the plant or plantparts, the fruit or the soil in which the plants grow.

The fact that the mixtures or compositions are well tolerated by plantsat the concentrations required for controlling plant diseases allows thetreatment of above-ground parts of plants, of propagation stock andseeds, and of the soil.

The mixtures or compositions according to the invention, in combinationwith good plant tolerance and favourable toxicity to warm-bloodedanimals and being tolerated well by the environment, are suitable forprotecting plants and plant organs, for increasing harvest yields, forimproving the quality of the harvested material and for controllingpests, in particular insects, arachnids, helminths, nematodes andmolluscs, which are encountered in agriculture, in horticulture, inanimal husbandry, in forests, in gardens and leisure facilities, inprotection of stored products and of materials, and in the hygienesector. They can be preferably employed as plant protection agents. Theyare active against normally sensitive and resistant species and againstall or some stages of development. The abovementioned pests include:

pests from the phylum Arthropoda, especially from the class Arachnida,for example, Acarus spp., Aceria sheldoni, Aculops spp., Aculus spp.,Amblyomma spp., Amphitetranychus viennensis, Argas spp., Boophilus spp.,Brevipalpus spp., Bryobia graminum, Bryobia praetiosa, Centruroidesspp., Chorioptes spp., Dermanyssus gallinae, Dermatophagoidespteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae, Dermacentor spp., Eotetranychusspp., Epitrimerus pyri, Eutetranychus spp., Eriophyes spp., Glycyphagusdomesticus, Halotydeus destructor, Hemitarsonemus spp., Hyalomma spp.,Ixodes spp., Latrodectus spp., Loxosceles spp., Metatetranychus spp.,Neutrombicula autumnalis, Nuphersa spp., Oligonychus spp., Ornithodorusspp., Ornithonyssus spp., Panonychus spp., Phyllocoptruta oleivora,Polyphagotarsonemus latus, Psoroptes spp., Rhipicephalus spp.,Rhizoglyphus spp., Sarcoptes spp., Scorpio maurus, Steneotarsonemusspp., Steneotarsonemus spinki, Tarsonemus spp., Tetranychus spp.,Trombicula alfreddugesi, Vaejovis spp., Vasates lycopersici;

from the class Chilopoda, for example, Geophilus spp., Scutigera spp.;

from the order or the class Collembola, for example, Onychiurus armatus;

from the class Diplopoda, for example, Blaniulus guttulatus;

from the class Insecta, e.g. from the order Blattodea, for example,Blattella asahinai, Blattella germanica, Blatta orientalis, Leucophaeamaderae, Panchlora spp., Parcoblatta spp., Periplaneta spp., Supellalongipalpa;

from the order Coleoptera, for example, Acalymma vittatum,Acanthoscelides obtectus, Adoretus spp., Agelastica alni, Agriotes spp.,Alphitobius diaperinus, Amphimallon solstitialis, Anobium punctatum,Anoplophora spp., Anthonomus spp., Anthrenus spp., Apion spp., Apogoniaspp., Atomaria spp., Attagenus spp., Bruchidius obtectus, Bruchus spp.,Cassida spp., Cerotoma trifurcata, Ceutorrhynchus spp., Chaetocnemaspp., Cleonus mendicus, Conoderus spp., Cosmopolites spp., Costelytrazealandica, Ctenicera spp., Curculio spp., Cryptolestes ferrugineus,Cryptorhynchus lapathi, Cylindrocopturus spp., Dermestes spp.,Diabrotica spp., Dichocrocis spp., Dicladispa armigera, Diloboderusspp., Epilachna spp., Epitrix spp., Faustinus spp., Gibbium psylloides,Gnathocerus cornutus, Hellula undalis, Heteronychus arator, Heteronyxspp., Hylamorpha elegans, Hylotrupes bajulus, Hypera postica, Hypomecessquamosus, Hypothenemus spp., Lachnosterna consanguinea, Lasiodermaserricorne, Latheticus oryzae, Lathridius spp., Lema spp., Leptinotarsadecemlineata, Leucoptera spp., Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus, Lixus spp.,Luperodes spp., Lyctus spp., Megascelis spp., Melanotus spp., Meligethesaeneus, Melolontha spp., Migdolus spp., Monochamus spp., Naupactusxanthographus, Necrobia spp., Niptus hololeucus, Oryctes rhinoceros,Oryzaephilus surinamensis, Oryzaphagus oryzae, Otiorrhynchus spp.,Oxycetonia jucunda, Phaedon cochleariae, Phyllophaga spp., Phyllophagahelleri, Phyllotreta spp., Popillia japonica, Premnotrypes spp.,Prostephanus truncatus, Psylliodes spp., Ptinus spp., Rhizobiusventralis, Rhizopertha dominica, Sitophilus spp., Sitophilus oryzae,Sphenophorus spp., Stegobium paniceum, Sternechus spp., Symphyletesspp., Tanymecus spp., Tenebrio molitor, Tenebrioides mauretanicus,Tribolium spp., Trogoderma spp., Tychius spp., Xylotrechus spp., Zabrusspp.;

from the order Diptera, for example, Aedes spp., Agromyza spp.,Anastrepha spp., Anopheles spp., Asphondylia spp., Bactrocera spp.,Bibio hortulanus, Calliphora erythrocephala, Calliphora vicina,Ceratitis capitata, Chironomus spp., Chrysomyia spp., Chrysops spp.,Chrysozona pluvialis, Cochliomyia spp., Contarinia spp., Cordylobiaanthropophaga, Cricotopus sylvestris, Culex spp., Culicoides spp.,Culiseta spp., Cuterebra spp., Dacus oleae, Dasyneura spp., Delia spp.,Dermatobia hominis, Drosophila spp., Echinocnemus spp., Fannia spp.,Gasterophilus spp., Glossina spp., Haematopota spp., Hydrellia spp.,Hydrellia griseola, Hylemya spp., Hippobosca spp., Hypoderma spp.,Liriomyza spp., Lucilia spp., Lutzomyia spp., Mansonia spp., Musca spp.,Oestrus spp., Oscinella frit, Paratanytarsus spp., Paralauterborniellasubcincta, Pegomyia spp., Phlebotomus spp., Phorbia spp., Phormia spp.,Piophila casei, Prodiplosis spp., Psila rosae, Rhagoletis spp.,Sarcophaga spp., Simulium spp., Stomoxys spp., Tabanus spp., Tetanopsspp., Tipula spp.;

from the order Heteroptera, for example, Anasa tristis, Antestiopsisspp., Boisea spp., Blissus spp., Calocoris spp., Campylomma livida,Cavelerius spp., Cimex spp., Collaria spp., Creontiades dilutus, Dasynuspiperis, Dichelops furcatus, Diconocoris hewetti, Dysdercus spp.,Euschistus spp., Eurygaster spp., Heliopeltis spp., Horcias nobilellus,Leptocorisa spp., Leptocorisa varicornis, Leptoglossus phyllopus, Lygusspp., Macropes excavatus, Miridae, Monalonion atratum, Nezara spp.,Oebalus spp., Pentomidae, Piesma quadrata, Piezodorus spp., Psallusspp., Pseudacysta persea, Rhodnius spp., Sahlbergella singularis,Scaptocoris castanea, Scotinophora spp., Stephanitis nashi, Tibracaspp., Triatoma spp.;

from the order Homoptera, for example, Acizzia acaciaebaileyanae,Acizzia dodonaeae, Acizzia uncatoides, Acrida turrita, Acyrthosiponspp., Acrogonia spp., Aeneolamia spp., Agonoscena spp., Aleyrodesproletella, Aleurolobus barodensis, Aleurothrixus floccosus,Allocaridara malayensis, Amrasca spp., Anuraphis cardui, Aonidiellaspp., Aphanostigma piri, Aphis spp., Arboridia apicalis, Arytainillaspp., Aspidiella spp., Aspidiotus spp., Atanus spp., Aulacorthum solani,Bemisia tabaci, Blastopsylla occidentalis, Boreioglycaspis melaleucae,Brachycaudus helichrysi, Brachycolus spp., Brevicoryne brassicae,Cacopsylla spp., Calligypona marginata, Carneocephala fulgida,Ceratovacuna lanigera, Cercopidae, Ceroplastes spp., Chaetosiphonfragaefolii, Chionaspis tegalensis, Chlorita onukii, Chondracris rosea,Chromaphis juglandicola, Chrysomphalus ficus, Cicadulina mbila,Coccomytilus halli, Coccus spp., Cryptomyzus ribis, Cryptoneossa spp.,Ctenarytaina spp., Dalbulus spp., Dialeurodes citri, Diaphorina citri,Diaspis spp., Drosicha spp., Dysaphis spp., Dysmicoccus spp., Empoascaspp., Eriosoma spp., Erythroneura spp., Eucalyptolyma spp., Euphylluraspp., Euscelis bilobatus, Ferrisia spp., Geococcus coffeae, Glycaspisspp., Heteropsylla cubana, Heteropsylla spinulosa, Homalodiscacoagulata, Hyalopterus arundinis, Icerya spp., Idiocerus spp.,Idioscopus spp., Laodelphax striatellus, Lecanium spp., Lepidosaphesspp., Lipaphis erysimi, Macrosiphum spp., Macrosteles facifrons,Mahanarva spp., Melanaphis sacchari, Metcalfiella spp., Metopolophiumdirhodum, Monellia costalis, Monelliopsis pecanis, Myzus spp., Nasonoviaribisnigri, Nephotettix spp., Nettigoniclla spectra, Nilaparvata lugens,Oncometopia spp., Orthezia praelonga, Oxya chinensis, Pachypsylla spp.,Parabemisia myricae, Paratrioza spp., Parlatoria spp., Pemphigus spp.,Peregrinus maidis, Phenacoccus spp., Phloeomyzus passerinii, Phorodonhumuli, Phylloxera spp., Pinnaspis aspidistrae, Planococcus spp.,Prosopidopsylla flava, Protopulvinaria pyriformis, Pseudaulacaspispentagona, Pseudococcus spp., Psyllopsis spp., Psylla spp., Pteromalusspp., Pyrilla spp., Quadraspidiotus spp., Quesada gigas, Rastrococcusspp., Rhopalosiphum spp., Saissetia spp., Scaphoideus titanus,Schizaphis graminum, Selenaspidus articulatus, Sogata spp., Sogatellafurcifera, Sogatodes spp., Stictocephala festina, Siphoninus phillyreae,Tenalaphara malayensis, Tetragonocephela spp., Tinocallis caryaefoliae,Tomaspis spp., Toxoptera spp., Trialeurodes vaporariorum, Trioza spp.,Typhlocyba spp., Unaspis spp., Viteus vitifolii, Zygina spp.;

from the order Hymenoptera, for example, Acromyrmex spp., Athalia spp.,Atta spp., Diprion spp., Hoplocampa spp., Lasius spp., Monomoriumpharaonis, Sirex spp., Solenopsis invicta, Tapinoma spp., Urocerus spp.,Vespa spp., Xeris spp.;

from the order Isopoda, for example, Armadillidium vulgare, Oniscusasellus, Porcellio scaber;

from the order Isoptera, for example, Coptotermes spp., Cornitermescumulans, Cryptotermes spp., Incisitermes spp., Microtermes obesi,Odontotermes spp., Reticulitermes spp.;

from the order Lepidoptera, for example, Achroia grisella, Acronictamajor, Adoxophyes spp., Aedia leucomelas, Agrotis spp., Alabama spp.,Amyelois transitella, Anarsia spp., Anticarsia spp., Argyroploce spp.,Barathra brassicae, Borbo cinnara, Bucculatrix thurberiella, Bupaluspiniarius, Busseola spp., Cacoecia spp., Caloptilia theivora, Capuareticulana, Carpocapsa pomonella, Carposina niponensis, Cheimatobiabrumata, Chilo spp., Choristoneura spp., Clysia ambiguella,Cnaphalocerus spp., Cnaphalocrocis medinalis, Cnephasia spp.,Conopomorpha spp., Conotrachelus spp., Copitarsia spp., Cydia spp.,Dalaca noctuides, Diaphania spp., Diatraea saccharalis, Earias spp.,Ecdytolopha aurantium, Elasmopalpus lignosellus, Eldana saccharina,Ephestia spp., Epinotia spp., Epiphyas postvittana, Etiella spp., Euliaspp., Eupoecilia ambiguella, Euproctis spp., Euxoa spp., Feltia spp.,Galleria mellonella, Gracillaria spp., Grapholitha spp., Hedylepta spp.,Helicoverpa spp., Heliothis spp., Hofmannophila pseudospretella,Homoeosoma spp., Homona spp., Hyponomeuta padella, Kakivoriaflavofasciata, Laphygma spp., Laspeyresia molesta, Leucinodes orbonalis,Leucoptera spp., Lithocolletis spp., Lithophane antennata, Lobesia spp.,Loxagrotis albicosta, Lymantria spp., Lyonetia spp., Malacosomaneustria, Maruca testulalis, Mamstra brassicae, Melanitis leda, Mocisspp., Monopis obviella, Mythimna separata, Nemapogon cloacellus,Nymphula spp., Oiketicus spp., Oria spp., Orthaga spp., Ostrinia spp.,Oulema oryzae, Panolis flammea, Parnara spp., Pectinophora spp.,Perileucoptera spp., Phthorimaea spp., Phyllocnistis citrella,Phyllonorycter spp., Pieris spp., Platynota stultana, Plodiainterpunctella, Plusia spp., Plutella xylostella, Prays spp., Prodeniaspp., Protoparce spp., Pseudaletia spp., Pseudaletia unipuncta,Pseudoplusia includens, Pyrausta nubilalis, Rachiplusia nu, Schoenobiusspp., Scirpophaga spp., Scirpophaga innotata, Scotia segetum, Sesamiaspp., Sesamia inferens, Sparganothis spp., Spodoptera spp., Spodopterapraefica, Stathmopoda spp., Stomopteryx subsecivella, Synanthedon spp.,Tecia solanivora, Thermesia gemmatalis, Tinea cloacella, Tineapellionella, Tineola bisselliella, Tortrix spp., Trichophaga tapetzella,Trichoplusia spp., Tryporyza incertulas, Tutu absoluta, Virachola spp.;

from the order Orthoptera or Saltatoria, for example, Acheta domesticus,Dichroplus spp., Gryllotalpa spp., Hieroglyphus spp., Locusta spp.,Melanoplus spp., Schistocerca gregaria;

from the order Phthiraptera, for example, Damalinia spp., Haematopinusspp., Linognathus spp., Pediculus spp., Ptirus pubis, Trichodectes spp.;

from the order Psocoptera for example Lepinatus spp., Liposcelis spp.;

from the order Siphonaptera, for example, Ceratophyllus spp.,Ctenocephalides spp., Pulex irritans, Tunga penetrans, Xenopsyllacheopsis;

from the order Thysanoptera, for example, Anaphothrips obscurus,Baliothrips biformis, Drepanothrips reuteri, Enneothrips flavens,Frankliniella spp., Heliothrips spp., Hercinothrips femoralis,Rhipiphorothrips cruentatus, Scirtothrips spp., Taeniothrips cardamomi,Thrips spp.;

from the order Zygentoma (=Thysanura), for example, Ctenolepisma spp.,Lepisma saccharina, Lepismodes inquilinus, Thermobia domestica;

from the class Symphyla, for example, Scutigerella spp.;

pests from the phylum Mollusca, especially from the class Bivalvia, forexample, Dreissena spp., and from the class Gastropoda, for example,Anion spp., Biomphalaria spp., Bulinus spp., Deroceras spp., Galba spp.,Lymnaea spp., Oncomelania spp., Pomacea spp., Succinea spp.;

animal pests from the phylums Plathelminthes and Nematoda, for example,Ancylostoma duodenale, Ancylostoma ceylanicum, Acylostoma braziliensis,Ancylostoma spp., Ascaris spp., Brugia malayi, Brugia timori, Bunostomumspp., Chabertia spp., Clonorchis spp., Cooperia spp., Dicrocoelium spp.,Dictyocaulus filaria, Diphyllobothrium latum, Dracunculus medinensis,Echinococcus granulosus, Echinococcus multilocularis, Enterobiusvermicularis, Faciola spp., Haemonchus spp., Heterakis spp., Hymenolepisnana, Hyostrongulus spp., Loa Loa, Nematodirus spp., Oesophagostomumspp., Opisthorchis spp., Onchocerca volvulus, Ostertagia spp.,Paragonimus spp., Schistosomen spp., Strongyloides fuelleborni,Strongyloides stercoralis, Stronyloides spp., Taenia saginata, Taeniasolium, Trichinella spiralis, Trichinella nativa, Trichinella britovi,Trichinella nelsoni, Trichinella pseudopsiralis, Trichostrongulus spp.,Trichuris trichuria, Wuchereria bancrofti;

phytoparasitic pests from the phylum Nematoda, for example,Aphelenchoides spp., Bursaphelenchus spp., Ditylenchus spp., Globoderaspp., Heterodera spp., Longidorus spp., Meloidogyne spp., Pratylenchusspp., Radopholus spp., Trichodorus spp., Tylenchulus spp., Xiphinemaspp., Helicotylenchus spp., Tylenchorhynchus spp., Scutellonema spp.,Paratrichodorus spp., Meloinema spp., Paraphelenchus spp., Aglenchusspp., Belonolaimus spp., Nacobbus spp., Rotylenchulus spp., Rotylenchusspp., Neotylenchus spp., Paraphelenchus spp., Dolichodorus spp.,Hoplolaimus spp., Punctodera spp., Criconemella spp., Quinisulcius spp.,Hemicycliophora spp., Anguina spp., Subanguina spp., Hemicriconemoidesspp., Psilenchus spp., Pseudohalenchus spp., Criconemoides spp.,Cacopaurus spp.

It is furthermore possible to control organisms from the subphylumProtozoa, especially from the order Coccidia, such as Eimeria spp.

The mixtures or compositions according to the invention,are particularsuitable for controlling pests infecting soybean like Acrosternumhilare, Agrotis ipsilon, Calomycterus setarius, Ceratoma trifurcata,Colaspis brunnea, Colaspis crinnicornis, Cyclocephala lurida, Dectestexanus, Delia platura, Epicauta funebris, Epicauta pennsylvanica,Epicauta spp., Epicauta vittata, Euschistus spp., Feltia ducens,Halticus bractatus, Hypena scabra, Melanoplus bivitatus, Melanoplusdifferentialis, Melanoplus femurrubrum, Odontota horni, Papaipemanebris, Peridroma saucia, Phyllophaga congrua, Phyllophaga implicita,Phyllophaga rugosa, Popillia japonica, Pseudoplusia includens,Spodoptera ornithogalli, Strigoderma arboricola, Tetranychus urticae,Vanessa cardui.

The mixtures or compositions according to the invention can also be usedin the control of vectors. In the sense of the present invention, avector is an arthropod, in particular an insect or arachnid, capable oftransferring pathogens such as, for example, viruses, worms, single-cellorganisms and bacteria from a reservoir (plant, animal, human, etc.) toa host. The pathogens may either be transferred mechanically onto a host(for example trachoma by non-biting flies) or transferred by injectioninto a host (for example malaria parasites by mosquitoes).

Examples of vectors and the diseases or pathogens transferred by themare:

1) mosquitoes

-   -   Anopheles: malaria, filariasis;    -   Culex: Japanese encephalitis, filariasis, other viral diseases,        transfer of worms;    -   Aedes: yellow fever, Dengue fever, filariasis, other viral        diseases;    -   Simuliidae: transfer of worms, in particular Onchocerca        volvulus;

2) Lice: skin infections, epidemic typhus;

3) Fleas: plague, murine typhus;

4) Flies: sleeping sickness (trypanosomiasis); cholera, other bacterialdiseases;

5) Mites: Acariose, epidemic typhus, Rickettsialpox, Tularamia,Saint-Louis encephalitis, tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), Krim-Kongohaematologic fever, epidemic typhus, borreliosis;

6) Ticks: Borelliosis such as Borrelia duttoni, tick-borne encephalitis,Q fever (Coxiella burnetii), babesiosis (Babesia canis canis).

Examples of vectors in the sense of the present invention are insectssuch as aphids, flies, leaf hoppers or thrips, capable of transferringplant viruses to plants. Further vectors capable of transferring plantviruses are spider mites, lice, beetles and nematodes.

Further examples of vectors in the sense of the present invention areinsects and arachnids such as mosquitoes, in particular of the generaAedes, Anopheles, for example A. gambiae, A. arabiensis, A. funestus, A.dirus (Malaria), and Culex, lice, fleas, flies, mites and ticks capableof transferring pathogens to animals and/or humans.

A control of vectors is also possible with resistance-breakingcompounds/compositions.

Mixtures or compositions of the present invention are suitable for usein the prevention of diseases or of pathogens transferred by vectors.Thus, a further aspect of the present invention is the use of compoundsaccording to the invention for controlling vectors, e.g., inagriculture, in horticulture, in forests, in gardens and leisurefacilities as well as in the protection of stored products andmaterials.

Plants

According to the invention all plants and plant parts can be treated. Byplants is meant all plants and plant populations such as desirable andundesirable wild plants, cultivars and plant varieties (whether or notprotectable by plant variety or plant breeder's rights). Cultivars andplant varieties can be plants obtained by conventional propagation andbreeding methods which can be assisted or supplemented by one or morebiotechnological methods such as by use of double haploids, protoplastfusion, random and directed mutagenesis, molecular or genetic markers orby bioengineering and genetic engineering methods. By plant parts ismeant all above ground and below ground parts and organs of plants suchas shoot, leaf, blossom and root, whereby for example leaves, needles,stems, branches, blossoms, fruiting bodies, fruits and seed as well asroots, corns and rhizomes are listed. Crops and vegetative andgenerative propagating material, for example cuttings, corns, rhizomes,runners and seeds also belong to plant parts.

The inventive mixtures or compositions s, when they are well toleratedby plants, have favourable homeotherm toxicity and are well tolerated bythe environment, are suitable for protecting plants and plant organs,for enhancing harvest yields, for improving the quality of the harvestedmaterial. They can preferably be used as crop protection compositions.They are active against normally sensitive and resistant species andagainst all or some stages of development.

Plants which can be treated in accordance with the invention include thefollowing main crop plants: maize, soybean bean, alfalfa, cotton,sunflower, Brassica oil seeds such as Brassica napus (e.g. canola,rapeseed), Brassica rapa, B. juncea (e.g. (field) mustard) and Brassicacarinata, Arecaceae sp. (e.g. oilpalm, coconut), rice, wheat, sugarbeet, sugar cane, oats, rye, barley, millet and sorghum, triticale,flax, nuts, grapes and vine and various fruit and vegetables fromvarious botanic taxa, e.g. Rosaceae sp. (e.g. pome fruits such as applesand pears, but also stone fruits such as apricots, cherries, almonds,plums and peaches, and berry fruits such as strawberries, raspberries,red and black currant and gooseberry), Ribesioidae sp., Juglandaceaesp., Betulaceae sp., Anacardiaceae sp., Fagaceae sp., Moraceae sp.,Oleaceae sp. (e.g. olive tree), Actinidaceae sp., Lauraceae sp. (e.g.avocado, cinnamon, camphor), Musaceae sp. (e.g. banana trees andplantations), Rubiaceae sp. (e.g. coffee), Theaceae sp. (e.g. tea),Sterculiceae sp., Rutaceae sp. (e.g. lemons, oranges, mandarins andgrapefruit); Solanaceae sp. (e.g. tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, capsicum,aubergines, tobacco), Liliaceae sp., Compositae sp. (e.g. lettuce,artichokes and chicory—including root chicory, endive or commonchicory), Umbelliferae sp. (e.g. carrots, parsley, celery and celeriac),Cucurbitaceae sp. (e.g. cucumbers—including gherkins, pumpkins,watermelons, calabashes and melons), Alliaceae sp. (e.g. leeks andonions), Cruciferae sp. (e.g. white cabbage, red cabbage, broccoli,cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, pak choi, kohlrabi, radishes,horseradish, cress and chinese cabbage), Leguminosae sp. (e.g. peanuts,peas, lentils and beans—e.g. common beans and broad beans),Chenopodiaceae sp. (e.g. Swiss chard, fodder beet, spinach, beetroot),Linaceae sp. (e.g. hemp), Cannabeacea sp. (e.g. cannabis), Malvaceae sp.(e.g. okra, cocoa), Papaveraceae (e.g. poppy), Asparagaceae (e.g.asparagus); useful plants and ornamental plants in the garden and woodsincluding turf, lawn, grass and Stevia rebaudiana; and in each casegenetically modified types of these plants.

Soybeans are particularly preferred plants.

In particular, the mixtures and compositions according to the inventionare suitable for controlling the following plant diseases:

Albugo spp. (white rust) on ornamental plants, vegetable crops (e.g. A.candida) and sunflowers (e.g. A. tragopogonis); Alternaria spp. (blackspot disease, black blotch) on vegetables, oilseed rape (e.g. A.brassicola or A. brassicae), sugar beet (e.g. A. tenuis), fruit, rice,soybeans and also on potatoes (e.g. A. solani or A. alternata) andtomatoes (e.g. A. solani or A. alternata) and Alternaria spp. (blackhead) on wheat; Aphanomyces spp. on sugar beet and vegetables; Ascochytaspp. on cereals and vegetables, e.g. A. tritici (Ascochyta leaf blight)on wheat and A. hordei on barley; Bipolaris and Drechslera spp.(teleomorph: Cochliobolus spp.), e.g. leaf spot diseases (D. maydis andB. zeicola) on corn, e.g. glume blotch (B. sorokiniana) on cereals ande.g. B. oryzae on rice and on lawn; Blumeria (old name: Erysiphe)graminis (powdery mildew) on cereals (e.g. wheat or barley);Botryosphaeria spp. (‘Slack Dead Arm Disease’) on grapevines (e.g. B.obtusa); Botrytis cinerea (teleomorph: Botryotinia fuckeliana: graymold, gray rot) on soft fruit and pomaceous fruit (inter aliastrawberries), vegetables (inter alia lettuce, carrots, celeriac andcabbage), oilseed rape, flowers, grapevines, forest crops and wheat (earmold); Bremia lactucae (downy mildew) on lettuce; Ceratocystis (syn.Ophiostoma) spp. (blue stain fungus) on deciduous trees and coniferoustrees, e.g. C. ulmi (Dutch elm disease) on elms; Cercospora spp.(Cereospora leat spot) on corn (e.g. C. zeae-maydis), rice, sugar beet(e.g. C. beticola), sugar cane, vegetables, coffee, soybeans (e.g. C.sojina or C. kikuchil) and rice; Cladosporium spp. on tomato (e.g. C.fulvum: tomato leaf mold) and cereals, e.g. C. herbarum (ear rot) onwheat; Claviceps purpurea (ergot) on cereals; Cochliobolus (anamorph:Helminthosporium or Bipolaris) spp. (leaf spot) on corn (e.g. C.carbonum), cereals (e.g. C. sativus, anamorph: B. sorokiniana: glumeblotch) and rice (tor example C. miyabeanus, anamorph: H. oryzae);Colletotrichum (teleomorph: Glomerella) spp. (anthracnosis) on cotton(e.g. C. gossypii), corn (e.g. C. graminicola: stem rot andanthracnosis), soft fruit, potatoes (e.g. C. coccodes: wilt disease),beans (e.g. C. lindemuthianum) and soybeans (e.g. C. truncatum);Corticium spp., e.g. C. sasakii (sheath blight) on rice; Corynesporacassiicola (leaf spot) on soybeans and ornamental plants; Cycloconiumspp., e.g. C. oleaginum on olives; Cylindrocarpon spp. (e.g. fruit treecancer or black foot disease of grapevine, teleomorph: Nectria orNeonectria spp.) on fruit trees, grapevines (e.g. C. liriodendn;teleomorph: Neonectria liriodendri, black foot disease) and manyornamental trees; Dematophora (teleomorph: Rosellinia) necatrix(root/stem rot) on soybeans; Diaporthe spp. e.g. D. phaseolorum (stemdisease) on soybeans; Drechslera (syn. Helminthosporium, teleomorph:Pyrenophora) spp. on corn, cereals, such as barley (e.g. D. teres, netblotch) and on wheat (e.g. D. tritici-repentis: DTR leaf spot), rice andlawn; Esca disease (dieback of grapevine, apoplexia) on grapevines,caused by Formitiporia (syn. Phellinus) punctata, F mediterranea.Phaeomoniella chlamydospora (old name Phaeoacremonium chlamydosporum),Phaeoacremonium aleophilum and/or Botryosphaeria obtusa; Elsinoe spp. onpome fruit (E. pyri) and soft fruit (E. veneta: anthracnosis) and alsograpevines (E. ampelina: anthracnosis); Entyloma oryzae (leaf smut) onrice; Epicoccum spp. (black head) on wheat; Erysiphe spp. (powderymildew) on sugar beet (E. betae), vegetatiles (e.g. E. pisi), such ascucumber species (e.g. E. cichoracearum) and cabbage species, such asoilseed rape (e.g. E. cruciferarum); Eutypa fata (Eutypa cancer ordieback, anamorph: Cytosporina lata, syn. Libertella blepharis) on fruittrees, grapevines and many ornamental trees; Exserohilum (syn.Helminthosporium) spp. on corn (e.g. E. turcicum); Fusarium (teleomorph:Gibberella) spp. (wilt disease, root and stem rot) on various plants,such as e.g. F. graminearum or F. culmorum (root rot and silver-top) oncereals (e.g. wheat or barley), F. oxysporum on tomatoes, F. solani onsoybeans and F. verticillioides on corn; Gaeumannomyces graminis(takeall) on cereals (e.g. wheat or barley) and corn; Gibberella spp. oncereals (e.g. G. zeae) and rice (e.g. G. fujikuroi: bakanae disease);Glomerella cingulata on grapevines, pomaceous fruit and other plants andG. gossypii on cotton; grainstaining complex on rice; Guignardiabidwellii (black rot) on grapevines; Gymnosporangium spp. on Rosaceaeand juniper, e.g. G. sabinae (pear rust) on pears; Helminthosporium spp.(syn. Drechslera, teleomorph: Cochliobolus) on corn, cereals and rice;Hemileia spp., e.g. H. vastatrix (coffee leaf rust) on coffee;Isariopsis clavispora (syn. Cladosporium vitis) on grapevines;Macrophomina phaseolina (syn. phaseoli) (root/stem rot) on soybeans andcotton; Microdochium (syn. Fusarium) nivale (pink snow mold) on cereals(e.g. wheat or barley); Microsphaera diffusa (powdery mildew) onsoybeans; Monilinia spp., e.g. M. laxa. M. fructicola and M. fructigena(blossom and twig blight) on stone fruit and other Rosaceae;Mycosphaerella spp. on cereals, bananas, soft fruit and peanuts, such ase.g. M. graminicola (anamorph: Septoria tritici, Septoria leaf blotch)on wheat or M. fijiensis (Sigatoka disease) on bananas; Peronospora spp.(downy mildew) on cabbage (e.g. P. brassicae), oilseed rape (e.g. P.parasitica), bulbous plants (e.g. P. destructor), tobacco (P. tabacina)and soybeans (e.g. P. manshurica); Phakopsora pachyrhizi and P.meibomiae (soybean rust) on soybeans; Phialophora spp. e.g. ongrapevines (e.g. P. tracheiphila and P. tetraspora) and soybeans (e.g.P. gregata: stem disease); Phoma lingam (root and stem rot) on oilseedrape and cabbage and P. betae (leaf spot) on sugar beet; Phomopsis spp.on sunflowers, grapevines (e.g. P. viticola: dead-arm disease) andsoybeans (e.g. stem canker/stem blight: P. phaseoli, teleomorph:Diaporthe phaseolorum); Physoderma maydis (brown spot) on corn;Phytophthora spp. (wilt disease, root, leaf, stem and fruit rot) onvarious plants, such as on bell peppers and cucumber species (e.g. P.capsici), soybeans (e.g. P. megasperma, syn. P. sojae), potatoes andtomatoes (e.g. P. infestans. late blight and brown rot) and deciduoustrees (e.g. P. ramorum sudden oak death); Plasmodiophora brassicae(club-root) on cabbage, oilseed rape, radish and other plants;Plasmopara spp., e.g. P. viticola (peronospora of grapevines, downymildew) on grapevines and P. halstedii on sunflowers; Podosphaera spp.(powdery mildew) on Rosaceae, hops, pomaceaus fruit and soft fruit, e.g.P. leucotricha on apple; Polymyxa spp., e.g. on cereals, such as barleyand wheat (P. graminis) and sugar beet (P. betae) and the viral diseasestransmitted thereby; Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides (eyespot/stembreak, teleomorph: Tapesia yallundae) on cereals. e.g. wheat or barley;Pseudoperonospora (downy mildew) on various plants, e.g. P. cubensis oncucumber species or P. humili on hops; Pseudopezicula tracheiphila(angular leaf scorch, anamorph Phialophora) on grapevines; Puccinia spp.(rust disease) on various plants, e.g. P. triticina (brown rust ofwheat), P. striifomlis (yellow rust). P. hordei (dwarf leaf rust), P.graminis (black rust) or P. recondita (brown rust of rye) on cereals,such as e.g. wheat, barley or rye. P. kuehnii on sugar cane and, e.g.,on asparagus (e.g. P. asparagi); Pyrenophora (anamorph: Drechslera)tritici-repentis (speckled leaf blotch) on wheat or P. teres (netblotch) on barley; Pyricularia spp., e.g. P. oryzae (teleomorph:Magnaporthe grisea. rice blast) on rice and P. grisea on lawn andcereals; Pythium spp. (damping-off disease) on lawn, rice, corn, wheat,cotton, oilseed rape, sunflowers, sugar beet, vegetables and otherplants (e.g. P. ultimum or P. aphanidermatum); Ramularia spp., e.g. R.collo-cygni (Ramularia leaf and lawn spot/physiological leaf spot) onbarley and R. beticola on sugar beet; Rhizoctonia spp. on cotton, rice,potatoes, lawn, corn, oilseed rape, potatoes, sugar beet, vegetables andon various other plants, for example R. solani (root and stern rot) onsoybeans, R. solani (sheath blight) on rice or R. cerealis (sharpeyespot) on wheat or barley; Rhizopus stolonifer (soft rot) onstrawberries, carrots, cabbage, grapevines and tomato; Rhynchosporiumsecalis (leaf spot) on barley, rye and triticale; Sarocladium oryzae andS. attenuatum (sheath rot) on rice; Sclerotinia spp. (stem or white rot)on vegetable and field crops, such as oilseed rape, sunflowers (e.g.Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) and soybeans (e.g. S. rolfsii), Septoria spp.on various plants, e.g. S. glycines (leaf spot) on soybeans, S. tritici(Septoria leaf blotch) on wheat and S. (syn. Stagonospora) nodorum (leafblotch and glume blotch) on cereals; Uncinula (syn. Erysiphe) necator(powdery mildew, anamorph: Oidium tuckeri) on grapevines; Setospaeriaspp. (leaf spot) on corn (e.g. S. turcicum, syn. Helminthosporiumturcicum) and lawn; Sphacelotheca spp. (head smut) on corn, (e.g. S.reiliana: kernel smut), millet and sugar cane; Sphaerotheca fuliginea(powdery mildew) on cucumber species; Spongospora subterranea (powderyscab) on potatoes and the viral diseases transmitted thereby;Stagonospora spp. on cereals, e.g. S. nodorum (leaf blotch and glumeblotch, teleomorph: Leptosphaeria [syn. Phaeosphaeria] nodorum) onwheat; Synchytrium endobioticum on potatoes (potato wart disease);Taphrina spp., e.g. T. deformans (curly-leaf disease) on peach and T.pruni (plum-pocket disease) on plums; Thielaviopsis spp. (black rootrot) on tobacco, pome fruit, vegetable crops, soybeans and cotton, e.g.T. basicola (syn. Chalara elegans); Tilletia spp. (bunt or stinkingsmut) on cereals, such as e.g. T. tritici (syn. T. caries, wheat bunt)and T. controversa (dwarf bunt) on wheat; Typhula incarnata (gray snowmold) on barley or wheat; Urocystis spp., e.g. U. occulta (flag smut) onrye; Uromyces spp. (rust) on vegetable plants, such as beans (e.g. U.appendiculatus, syn. U. phaseoll) and sugar beet (e.g. U. betae);Ustilago spp. (loose smut) on cereals (e.g. U. nuda and U. avaenae),corn (e.g. U. maydis: corn smut) and sugar cane; Venturia spp. (scab) onapples (e.g. V. inaequalis) and pears and Verticillium spp. (leaf andshoot wilt) on various plants, such as fruit trees and ornamental trees,grapevines, soft fruit, vegetable and field crops, such as e.g. V.dahliae on strawberries, oilseed rape, potatoes and tomatoes.

The mixtures and compositions according to the present inventions are inparticular preferred for controlling the following plant diseases:Soybean diseases: Cercospora kikuchii, Elsinoe glycines, Diaporthephaseolorum var. sojae, Septaria glycines, Cercospora sojina, Phakopsorapachyrhizi, Phytophthora sojae, Rhizoctonia solani, Corynesporacasiicola, and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.

Plant Health

The inventive mixtures and compositions according to the presentinventions are suitable for enhancing plant health.

Enhancing plant health shall mean that the inventive mixtures andcompositions can be used as plant growth regulators as defined below, asplant strengthening/resistance inducing compound as defined below, foreffecting plant physiology as defined below, and for increasing yield incrops as defined below.

Plant Growth Regulation

In some cases, the inventive mixtures or compositions can, at particularconcentrations or application rates, also be used as herbicides,safeners, growth regulators or agents to improve plant properties, or asmicrobicides, for example as fungicides, antimycotics, bactericides,viricides (including compositions against viroids) or as compositionsagainst MLO (Mycoplasma-like organisms) and RLO (Rickettsia-likeorganisms). The active ingredients of the inventive mixture orcomposition intervene in the metabolism of the plants and can thereforealso be used as growth regulators.

Plant growth regulators may exert various effects on plants. The effectof the substances depends essentially on the time of application inrelation to the developmental stage of the plant, and also on theamounts of active ingredient applied to the plants or their environmentand on the type of application. In each case, growth regulators shouldhave a particular desired effect on the crop plants.

Plant growth-regulating compounds can be used, for example, to inhibitthe vegetative growth of the plants. Such inhibition of growth is ofeconomic interest, for example, in the case of grasses, since it is thuspossible to reduce the frequency of grass cutting in ornamental gardens,parks and sport facilities, on roadsides, at airports or in fruit crops.Also of significance is the inhibition of the growth of herbaceous andwoody plants on roadsides and in the vicinity of pipelines or overheadcables, or quite generally in areas where vigorous plant growth isunwanted.

Also important is the use of growth regulators for inhibition of thelongitudinal growth of cereal. This reduces or completely eliminates therisk of lodging of the plants prior to harvest. In addition, growthregulators in the case of cereals can strengthen the culm, which alsocounteracts lodging. The employment of growth regulators for shorteningand strengthening culms allows the deployment of higher fertilizervolumes to increase the yield, without any risk of lodging of the cerealcrop.

In many crop plants, inhibition of vegetative growth allows denserplanting, and it is thus possible to achieve higher yields based on thesoil surface. Another advantage of the smaller plants obtained in thisway is that the crop is easier to cultivate and harvest.

Inhibition of the vegetative plant growth may also lead to enhancedyields because the nutrients and assimilates are of more benefit toflower and fruit formation than to the vegetative parts of the plants.

Frequently, growth regulators can also be used to promote vegetativegrowth. This is of great benefit when harvesting the vegetative plantparts. However, promoting vegetative growth may also promote generativegrowth in that more assimilates are formed, resulting in more or largerfruits.

In some cases, yield increases may be achieved by manipulating themetabolism of the plant, without any detectable changes in vegetativegrowth. In addition, growth regulators can be used to alter thecomposition of the plants, which in turn may result in an improvement inquality of the harvested products. For example, it is possible toincrease the sugar content in sugar beet, sugar cane, pineapples and incitrus fruit, or to increase the protein content in soya or cereals. Itis also possible, for example, to use growth regulators to inhibit thedegradation of desirable ingredients, for example sugar in sugar beet orsugar cane, before or after harvest. It is also possible to positivelyinfluence the production or the elimination of secondary plantingredients. One example is the stimulation of the flow of latex inrubber trees.

Under the influence of growth regulators, parthenocarpic fruits may beformed. In addition, it is possible to influence the sex of the flowers.It is also possible to produce sterile pollen, which is of greatimportance in the breeding and production of hybrid seed.

Use of growth regulators can control the branching of the plants. On theone hand, by breaking apical dominance, it is possible to promote thedevelopment of side shoots, which may be highly desirable particularlyin the cultivation of ornamental plants, also in combination with aninhibition of growth. On the other hand, however, it is also possible toinhibit the growth of the side shoots. This effect is of particularinterest, for example, in the cultivation of tobacco or in thecultivation of tomatoes.

Under the influence of growth regulators, the amount of leaves on theplants can be controlled such that defoliation of the plants is achievedat a desired time. Such defoliation plays a major role in the mechanicalharvesting of cotton, but is also of interest for facilitatingharvesting in other crops, for example in viticulture.

Defoliation of the plants can also be undertaken to lower thetranspiration of the plants before they are transplanted.

Growth regulators can likewise be used to regulate fruit dehiscence. Onthe one hand, it is possible to prevent premature fruit dehiscence. Onthe other hand, it is also possible to promote fruit dehiscence or evenflower abortion to achieve a desired mass (“thinning”), in order toeliminate alternation. Alternation is understood to mean thecharacteristic of some fruit species, for endogenous reasons, to deliververy different yields from year to year. Finally, it is possible to usegrowth regulators at the time of harvest to reduce the forces requiredto detach the fruits, in order to allow mechanical harvesting or tofacilitate manual harvesting.

Growth regulators can also be used to achieve faster or else delayedripening of the harvested material before or after harvest. This isparticularly advantageous as it allows optimal adjustment to therequirements of the market. Moreover, growth regulators in some casescan improve the fruit colour. In addition, growth regulators can also beused to concentrate maturation within a certain period of time. Thisestablishes the prerequisites for complete mechanical or manualharvesting in a single operation, for example in the case of tobacco,tomatoes or coffee.

By using growth regulators, it is additionally possible to influence theresting of seed or buds of the plants, such that plants such aspineapple or ornamental plants in nurseries, for example, germinate,sprout or flower at a time when they are normally not inclined to do so.In areas where there is a risk of frost, it may be desirable to delaybudding or germination of seeds with the aid of growth regulators, inorder to avoid damage resulting from late frosts.

Finally, growth regulators can induce resistance of the plants to frost,drought or high salinity of the soil. This allows the cultivation ofplants in regions which are normally unsuitable for this purpose.

Resistance Induction/and Other Effects

The mixtures or compositions according to the invention also exhibit apotent strengthening effect in plants. Accordingly, they can be used formobilizing the defences of the plant against attack by undesirablemicroorganisms.

Plant-strengthening (resistance-inducing) substances are to beunderstood as meaning, in the present context, those substances whichare capable of stimulating the defence system of plants in such a waythat the treated plants, when subsequently inoculated with undesirablemicroorganisms, develop a high degree of resistance to thesemicroorganisms.

The active compounds according to the invention are also suitable forincreasing the yield of crops. In addition, they show reduced toxicityand are well tolerated by plants.

Further, in context with the present invention plant physiology effectscomprise the following:

Abiotic stress tolerance, comprising temperature tolerance, droughttolerance and recovery after drought stress, water use efficiency(correlating to reduced water consumption), flood tolerance, ozonestress and UV tolerance, tolerance towards chemicals like heavy metals,salts, pesticides (safener) etc.

Biotic stress tolerance, comprising increased fungal resistance andincreased resistance against nematodes, viruses and bacteria. In contextwith the present invention, biotic stress tolerance preferably comprisesincreased fungal resistance and increased resistance against nematodes

Increased plant vigor, comprising plant quality and seed vigor, reducedstand failure, improved appearance, increased recovery, improvedgreening effect and improved photosynthetic efficiency.

Effects on plant hormones and/or functional enzymes.

Effects on growth regulators (promoters), comprising earliergermination, better emergence, more developed root system and/orimproved root growth, increased ability of tillering, more productivetillers, earlier flowering, increased plant height and/or biomass,shorting of stems, improvements in shoot growth, number of kernels/ear,number of ears/m², number of stolons and/or number of flowers, enhancedharvest index, bigger leaves, less dead basal leaves, improvedphyllotaxy, earlier maturation/earlier fruit finish, homogenous riping,increased duration of grain filling, better fruit finish, biggerfruit/vegetable size, sprouting resistance and reduced lodging.

Increased yield, referring to total biomass per hectare, yield perhectare, kernel/fruit weight, seed size and/or hectolitre weight as wellas to increased product quality, comprising:

improved processability relating to size distribution (kernel, fruit,etc.), homogenous riping, grain moisture, better milling, bettervinification, better brewing, increased juice yield, harvestability,digestibility, sedimentation value, falling number, pod stability,storage stability, improved fiber length/strength/uniformity, increaseof milk and/or meet quality of silage fed animals, adaption to cookingand frying;

further comprising improved marketability relating to improvedfruit/grain quality, size distribution (kernel, fruit, etc.), increasedstorage / shelf-life, firmness/softness, taste (aroma, texture, etc.),grade (size, shape, number of berries, etc.), number of berries/fruitsper bunch, crispness, freshness, coverage with wax, frequency ofphysiological disorders, colour, etc.;

further comprising increased desired ingredients such as e.g. proteincontent, fatty acids, oil content, oil quality, aminoacid composition,sugar content, acid content (pH), sugar/acid ratio (Brix), polyphenols,starch content, nutritional quality, gluten content/index, energycontent, taste, etc.;

and further comprising decreased undesired ingredients such as e.g. lessmycotoxines, less aflatoxines, geosmin level, phenolic aromas, lacchase,polyphenol oxidases and peroxidases, nitrate content etc.

Sustainable agriculture, comprising nutrient use efficiency, especiallynitrogen (N)-use efficiency, phosphours (P)-use efficiency, water useefficiency, improved transpiration, respiration and/or CO₂ assimilationrate, better nodulation, improved Ca-metabolism etc.

Delayed senescence, comprising improvement of plant physiology which ismanifested, for example, in a longer grain filling phase, leading tohigher yield, a longer duration of green leaf colouration of the plantand thus comprising colour (greening), water content, dryness etc.Accordingly, in the context of the present invention, it has been foundthat the specific inventive application of the active compoundcombination makes it possible to prolong the green leaf area duration,which delays the maturation (senescence) of the plant. The mainadvantage to the farmer is a longer grain filling phase leading tohigher yield. There is also an advantage to the farmer on the basis ofgreater flexibility in the harvesting time.

Therein “sedimentation value” is a measure for protein quality anddescribes according to Zeleny (Zeleny value) the degree of sedimentationof flour suspended in a lactic acid solution during a standard timeinterval. This is taken as a measure of the baking quality. Swelling ofthe gluten fraction of flour in lactic acid solution affects the rate ofsedimentation of a flour suspension. Both a higher gluten content and abetter gluten quality give rise to slower sedimentation and higherZeleny test values. The sedimentation value of flour depends on thewheat protein composition and is mostly correlated to the proteincontent, the wheat hardness, and the volume of pan and hearth loaves. Astronger correlation between loaf volume and Zeleny sedimentation volumecompared to SDS sedimentation volume could be due to the protein contentinfluencing both the volume and Zeleny value (Czech J. Food Sci. Vol.21, No. 3: 91-96, 2000).

Further the “falling number” as mentioned herein is a measure for thebaking quality of cereals, especially of wheat. The falling number testindicates that sprout damage may have occurred. It means that changes tothe physical properties of the starch portion of the wheat kernel hasalready happened. Therein, the falling number instrument analyzesviscosity by measuring the resistance of a flour and water paste to afalling plunger. The time (in seconds) for this to happen is known asthe falling number. The falling number results are recorded as an indexof enzyme activity in a wheat or flour sample and results are expressedin time as seconds. A high falling number (for example, above 300seconds) indicates minimal enzyme activity and sound quality wheat orflour. A low falling number (for example, below 250 seconds) indicatessubstantial enzyme activity and sprout-damaged wheat or flour.

The term “more developed root system”/“improved root growth” refers tolonger root system, deeper root growth, faster root growth, higher rootdry/fresh weight, higher root volume, larger root surface area, biggerroot diameter, higher root stability, more root branching, higher numberof root hairs, and/or more root tips and can be measured by analyzingthe root architecture with suitable methodologies and Image analysisprogrammes (e.g. WinRhizo).

The term “crop water use efficiency” refers technically to the mass ofagriculture produce per unit water consumed and economically to thevalue of product(s) produced per unit water volume consumed and can e.g.be measured in terms of yield per ha, biomass of the plants,thousand-kernel mass, and the number of ears per m2.

The term “nitrogen-use efficiency” refers technically to the mass ofagriculture produce per unit nitrogen consumed and economically to thevalue of product(s) produced per unit nitrogen consumed, reflectinguptake and utilization efficiency.

Improvement in greening/improved colour and improved photosyntheticefficiency as well as the delay of senescence can be measured withwell-known techniques such as a HandyPea system (Hansatech). Fv/Fm is aparameter widely used to indicate the maximum quantum efficiency ofphotosystem II (PSII). This parameter is widely considered to be aselective indication of plant photosynthetic performance with healthysamples typically achieving a maximum Fv/Fm value of approx. 0.85.Values lower than this will be observed if a sample has been exposed tosome type of biotic or abiotic stress factor which has reduced thecapacity for photochemical quenching of energy within PSII. Fv/Fm ispresented as a ratio of variable fluorescence (Fv) over the maximumfluorescence value (Fm). The Performance Index is essentially anindicator of sample vitality. (See e.g. Advanced Techniques in SoilMicrobiology, 2007, 11, 319-341; Applied Soil Ecology, 2000, 15,169-182.)

The improvement in greening/improved colour and improved photosyntheticefficiency as well as the delay of senescence can also be assessed bymeasurement of the net photosynthetic rate (Pn), measurement of thechlorophyll content, e.g. by the pigment extraction method of Zieglerand Ehle, measurement of the photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm ratio),determination of shoot growth and final root and/or canopy biomass,determination of tiller density as well as of root mortality.

Within the context of the present invention preference is given toimproving plant physiology effects which are selected from the groupcomprising: enhanced root growth/more developed root system, improvedgreening, improved water use efficiency (correlating to reduced waterconsumption), improved nutrient use efficiency, comprising especiallyimproved nitrogen (N)-use efficiency, delayed senescence and enhancedyield.

Within the enhancement of yield preference is given as to an improvementin the sedimentation value and the falling number as well as to theimprovement of the protein and sugar content—especially with plantsselected from the group of cereals (preferably wheat).

Preferably the novel use of the fungicidal mixtures or compositions ofthe present invention relates to a combined use of a) preventivelyand/or curatively controlling pathogenic fungi, with or withoutresistance management, and b) at least one of enhanced root growth,improved greening, improved water use efficiency, delayed senescence andenhanced yield. From group b) enhancement of root system, water useefficiency and N-use efficiency is particularly preferred.

Seed Treatment

The invention further comprises a method for treating seed.

The invention further relates to seed which has been treated by one ofthe methods described in the previous paragraph. The inventive seeds areemployed in methods for the protection of seed from harmfulmicroorganisms or pests. In these methods, seed treated with at leastone inventive mixture or composition is used.

The inventive mixtures or compositions are also suitable for treatingseed. A large part of the damage to crop plants caused by harmfulmicroorganisms or pests is triggered by the infection of the seed duringstorage or after sowing, and also during and after germination of theplant. This phase is particularly critical since the roots and shoots ofthe growing plant are particularly sensitive, and even minor damage mayresult in the death of the plant. There is therefore a great interest inprotecting the seed and the germinating plant by using appropriatecompositions.

The control of phytopathogenic fungi or pests by treating the seed ofplants has been known for a long time and is the subject of constantimprovements. However, the treatment of seed entails a series ofproblems which cannot always be solved in a satisfactory manner Forinstance, it is desirable to develop methods for protecting the seed andthe germinating plant, which dispense with, or at least significantlyreduce, the additional deployment of crop protection compositions afterplanting or after emergence of the plants. It is also desirable tooptimize the amount of the active ingredient used so as to provide thebest possible protection for the seed and the germinating plant fromattack by phytopathogenic fungi, but without damaging the plant itselfby the active ingredient employed. In particular, methods for thetreatment of seed should also take account of the intrinsic fungicidalproperties of transgenic plants in order to achieve optimal protectionof the seed and the germinating plant with a minimum expenditure of cropprotection compositions.

The present invention therefore also relates to a method for protectionof seed and germinating plants from attack by phytopathogenic fungi orpests, by treating the seed with an inventive composition. The inventionlikewise relates to the use of the inventive compositions for treatmentof seed to protect the seed and the germinating plant fromphytopathogenic fungi or pests. The invention further relates to seedwhich has been treated with an inventive composition for protection fromphytopathogenic fungi.

The control of phytopathogenic fungi or pests which damage plantspost-emergence is effected primarily by treating the soil and theabove-ground parts of plants with crop protection compositions. Owing tothe concerns regarding a possible influence of the crop protectioncompositions on the environment and the health of humans and animals,there are efforts to reduce the amount of active ingredients deployed.

One of the advantages of the present invention is that the particularsystemic properties of the inventive mixtures or compositions mean thattreatment of the seed with these active ingredients and compositions notonly protects the seed itself, but also the resulting plants afteremergence, from phytopathogenic fungi or pests. In this way, theimmediate treatment of the crop at the time of sowing or shortlythereafter can be dispensed with.

It is likewise considered to be advantageous that the inventive mixturesor compositions can especially also be used with transgenic seed, inwhich case the plant growing from this seed is capable of expressing aprotein which acts against pests. By virtue of the treatment of suchseed with the inventive mixtures or compositions, merely the expressionof the protein, for example an insecticidal protein, can control certainpests. Surprisingly, a further synergistic effect can be observed inthis case, which additionally increases the effectiveness for protectionagainst attack by pests.

The inventive compositions are suitable for protecting seed of any plantvariety which is used in agriculture, in greenhouses, in forests or inhorticulture and viticulture. In particular, this is the seed of cereals(such as wheat, barley, rye, triticale, sorghum/millet and oats), maize,cotton, soya beans, rice, potatoes, sunflower, bean, coffee, beet (forexample sugar beet and fodder beet), peanut, oilseed rape, poppy, olive,coconut, cocoa, sugar cane, tobacco, vegetables (such as tomato,cucumbers, onions and lettuce), turf and ornamentals (see also below).The treatment of the seed of cereals (such as wheat, barley, rye,triticale and oats), maize and rice is of particular significance.Particularly preferred are the seeds of soybean.

As also described below, the treatment of transgenic seed with theinventive mixtures or compositions is of particular significance. Thisrelates to the seed of plants containing at least one heterologous genewhich enatiles the expression of a polypeptide or protein havinginsecticidal properties. The heterologous gene in transgenic seed canoriginate, for example, from microorganisms of the species Bacillus,Rhizobium, Pseudomonas, Serratia, Trichoderma, Clavibacter, Glomus orGliocladium. This heterologous gene preferably originates from Bacillussp., in which case the gene product is effective against the Europeanmaize borer and/or the Western maize rootworm. The heterologous genemore preferably originates from Bacillus thuringiensis.

In the context of the present invention, the inventive mixtures orcompositions are applied to the seed alone or in a suitable formulation.Preferably, the seed is treated in a state in which it is sufficientlystable for no damage to occur in the course of treatment. In general,the seed can be treated at any time between harvest and sowing. It iscustomary to use seed which has been separated from the plant and freedfrom cobs, shells, stalks, coats, hairs or the flesh of the fruits. Forexample, it is possible to use seed which has been harvested, cleanedand dried down to a moisture content of less than 15% by weight.Alternatively, it is also possible to use seed which, after drying, forexample, has been treated with water and then dried again.

When treating the seed, care must generally be taken that the amount ofthe inventive composition applied to the seed and/or the amount offurther additives is selected such that the germination of the seed isnot impaired, or that the resulting plant is not damaged. This has to beborne in mind in particular in the case of mixtures or compositionswhich can have phytotoxic effects at certain application rates.

The inventive mixtures or compositions can be applied directly, i.e.without containing any other components and without having been diluted.In general, it is preferable to apply the compositions to the seed inthe form of a suitable formulation. Suitable formulations and methodsfor seed treatment are known to those skilled in the art and aredescribed, for example, in the following documents: U.S. Pat. No.4,272,417, U.S. Pat. No. 4,245,432, U.S. Pat. No. 4,808,430, U.S. Pat.No. 5,876,739, US 2003/0176428 A1, WO 2002/080675, WO 2002/028186.

The mixtures or compositions usable in accordance with the invention canbe converted to the customary seed dressing formulations, such assolutions, emulsions, suspensions, powders, foams, slurries or othercoating compositions for seed, and also ULV formulations.

These formulations are prepared in a known manner, by mixing the activeingredients with customary additives, for example customary extendersand also solvents or diluents, dyes, wetting agents, dispersants,emulsifiers, antifoams, preservatives, secondary thickeners, adhesives,gibberellins and also water.

Useful dyes which may be present in the seed dressing formulationsusable in accordance with the invention are all dyes which are customaryfor such purposes. It is possible to use either pigments, which aresparingly soluble in water, or dyes, which are soluble in water.Examples include the dyes known by the names Rhodamine B, C.I. PigmentRed 112 and C.I. Solvent Red 1.

Useful wetting agents which may be present in the seed dressingformulations usable in accordance with the invention are all substanceswhich promote wetting and which are conventionally used for theformulation of active agrochemical ingredients. Preference is given tousing alkyl naphthalenesulphonates, such as diisopropyl or diisobutylnaphthalenesulphonates.

Useful dispersants and/or emulsifiers which may be present in the seeddressing formulations usable in accordance with the invention are allnonionic, anionic and cationic dispersants conventionally used for theformulation of active agrochemical ingredients. Usable with preferenceare nonionic or anionic dispersants or mixtures of nonionic or anionicdispersants. Suitable nonionic dispersants include especially ethyleneoxide/propylene oxide block polymers, alkylphenol polyglycol ethers andtristryrylphenol polyglycol ether, and the phosphated or sulphatedderivatives thereof. Suitable anionic dispersants are especiallylignosulphonates, polyacrylic acid salts and arylsulphonate/formaldehydecondensates.

Antifoams which may be present in the seed dressing formulations usablein accordance with the invention are all foam-inhibiting substancesconventionally used for the formulation of active agrochemicalingredients. Silicone antifoams and magnesium stearate can be used withpreference.

Preservatives which may be present in the seed dressing formulationsusable in accordance with the invention are all substances usable forsuch purposes in agrochemical compositions. Examples includedichlorophene and benzyl alcohol hemiformal.

Secondary thickeners which may be present in the seed dressingformulations usable in accordance with the invention are all substancesusable for such purposes in agrochemical compositions. Preferredexamples include cellulose derivatives, acrylic acid derivatives,xanthan, modified clays and finely divided silica.

Adhesives which may be present in the seed dressing formulations usablein accordance with the invention are all customary binders usable inseed dressing products. Preferred examples include polyvinylpyrrolidone,polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol and tylose.

The gibberellins which may be present in the seed dressing formulationsusable in accordance with the invention may preferably be gibberellinsA1, A3 (=gibberellic acid), A4 and A7; particular preference is given tousing gibberellic acid. The gibberellins are known (cf. R. Wegler“Chemie der Pflanzenschutz- and Schädlingsbekämpfungsmittel” [Chemistryof the Crop Protection Compositions and Pesticides], vol. 2, SpringerVerlag, 1970, p. 401-412).

The seed dressing formulations usable in accordance with the inventioncan be used, either directly or after previously having been dilutedwith water, for the treatment of a wide range of different seed,including the seed of transgenic plants. In this case, additionalsynergistic effects may also occur in interaction with the substancesformed by expression.

For treatment of seed with the seed dressing formulations usable inaccordance with the invention, or the preparations prepared therefrom byadding water, all mixing units usable customarily for the seed dressingare useful. Specifically, the procedure in the seed dressing is to placethe seed into a mixer, to add the particular desired amount of seeddressing formulations, either as such or after prior dilution withwater, and to mix everything until the formulation is distributedhomogeneously on the seed. If appropriate, this is followed by a dryingprocess.

Mycotoxins

In addition, the inventive treatment can reduce the mycotoxin content inthe harvested material and the foods and feeds prepared therefrom.Mycotoxins include particularly, but not exclusively, the following:deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol, 15-Ac-DON, 3-Ac-DON, T2- and HT2-toxin,fumonisins, zearalenon, moniliformin, fusarin, diaceotoxyscirpenol(DAS), beauvericin, enniatin, fusaroproliferin, fusarenol, ochratoxins,patulin, ergot alkaloids and aflatoxins which can be produced, forexample, by the following fungi: Fusarium spec., such as F. acuminatum,F. asiaticum, F. avenaceum, F. crookwellense, F. culmorum, F.graminearum (Gibberella zeae), F. equiseti, F. fujikoroi, F. musarum, F.oxysporum, F. proliferatum, F. poae, F. pseudo graminearum, F.sambucinum, F. scirpi, F. semitectum, F. solani, F. sporotrichoides, F.langsethiae, F. subglutinans, F. tricinctum, F. verticillioides etc.,and also by Aspergillus spec., such as A. flavus, A. parasiticus, A.nomius, A. ochraceus, A. clavatus, A. terreus, A. versicolor,Penicillium spec., such as P. verrucosum, P. viridicatum, P. citrinum,P. expansum, P. claviforme, P. roqueforti, Claviceps spec., such as C.purpurea, C. fusiformis, C. paspali, C. africana, Stachybotrys spec. andothers.

Material Protection

The inventive mixtures or compositions or compositions can also be usedin the protection of materials, for protection of industrial materialsagainst attack and destruction by harmful microorganisms, for examplefungi and insects.

In addition, the inventive mixtures or compositions can be used asantifouling compositions, alone or in combinations with other activeingredients.

Industrial materials in the present context are understood to meaninanimate materials which have been prepared for use in industry. Forexample, industrial materials which are to be protected by inventivemixtures or compositions from microbial alteration or destruction may beadhesives, glues, paper, wallpaper and board/cardboard, textiles,carpets, leather, wood, fibers and tissues, paints and plastic articles,cooling lubricants and other materials which can be infected with ordestroyed by microorganisms. Parts of production plants and buildings,for example cooling-water circuits, cooling and heating systems andventilation and airconditioning units, which may be impaired by theproliferation of microorganisms may also be mentioned within the scopeof the materials to be protected. Industrial materials within the scopeof the present invention preferably include adhesives, sizes, paper andcard, leather, wood, paints, cooling lubricants and heat transferfluids, more preferably wood.

The inventive mixtures or compositions may prevent adverse effects, suchas rotting, decay, discoloration, decoloration or formation of mould.

In the case of treatment of wood the mixtures or compositions accordingto the invention may also be used against fungal diseases liable to growon or inside timber. The term “timber” means all types of species ofwood, and all types of working of this wood intended for construction,for example solid wood, high-density wood, laminated wood, and plywood.The method for treating timber according to the invention mainlyconsists in contacting a mixture or composition according to theinvention; this includes for example direct application, spraying,dipping, injection or any other suitable means.

In addition, the inventive mixtures or compositions can be used toprotect objects which come into contact with saltwater or brackishwater, especially hulls, screens, nets, buildings, moorings andsignalling systems, from fouling.

The inventive method for controlling harmful fungi can also be employedfor protecting storage goods. Storage goods are understood to meannatural substances of vegetable or animal origin or processed productsthereof which are of natural origin, and for which long-term protectionis desired. Storage goods of vegetable origin, for example plants orplant parts, such as stems, leaves, tubers, seeds, fruits, grains, canbe protected freshly harvested or after processing by (pre)drying,moistening, comminuting, grinding, pressing or roasting. Storage goodsalso include timber, both unprocessed, such as construction timber,electricity poles and barriers, or in the form of finished products,such as furniture. Storage goods of animal origin are, for example,hides, leather, furs and hairs. The inventive mixtures or compositionsmay prevent adverse effects, such as rotting, decay, discoloration,decoloration or formation of mould.

Microorganisms capable of degrading or altering the industrial materialsinclude, for example, bacteria, fungi, yeasts, algae and slimeorganisms. The inventive mixtures or compositions preferably act againstfungi, especially moulds, wood-discoloring and wood-destroying fungi(Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes, Deuteromycetes and Zygomycetes), andagainst slime organisms and algae. Examples include microorganisms ofthe following genera: Alternaria, such as Alternaria tenuis;Aspergillus, such as Aspergillus niger; Chaetomium, such as Chaetomiumglobosum; Coniophora, such as Coniophora puetana; Lentinus, such asLentinus tigrinus; Penicillium, such as Penicillium glaucum; Polyporus,such as Polyporus versicolor; Aureobasidium, such as Aureobasidiumpullulans; Sclerophoma, such as Sclerophoma pityophila; Trichoderma,such as Trichoderma viride; Ophiostoma spp., Ceratocystis spp., Humicolaspp., Petriella spp., Trichurus spp., Coriolus spp., Gloeophyllum spp.,Pleurotus spp., Poria spp., Serpula spp. and Tyromyces spp.,Cladosporium spp., Paecilomyces spp. Mucor spp., Escherichia, such asEscherichia coli; Pseudomonas, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa;Staphylococcus, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Candida spp. andSaccharomyces spp., such as Saccharomyces cerevisae.

Antimycotic Activity

In addition, the inventive mixtures or compositions also have very goodantimycotic activity. They have a very broad antimycotic activityspectrum, especially against dermatophytes and yeasts, moulds anddiphasic fungi (for example against Candida species, such as C.albicans, C. glabrata), and Epidermophyton floccusum, Aspergillusspecies, such as A. niger and A. fumigatus, Trichophyton species, suchas T. mentagrophytes, Microsporon species such as M. canis and M.audouinii. The list of these fungi by no means constitutes a restrictionof the mycotic spectrum covered, and is merely of illustrativecharacter.

The inventive mixtures or compositions can therefore be used both inmedical and in non-medical applications.

Genetically Modified Organisms

As already mentioned above, it is possible to treat all plants and theirparts in accordance with the invention. In a preferred embodiment, wildplant species and plant cultivars, or those obtained by conventionalbiological breeding methods, such as crossing or protoplast fusion, andalso parts thereof, are treated. In a further preferred embodiment,transgenic plants and plant cultivars obtained by genetic engineeringmethods, if appropriate in combination with conventional methods(Genetically Modified Organisms), and parts thereof are treated. Theterms “parts” or “parts of plants” or “plant parts” have been explainedabove. More preferably, plants of the plant cultivars which arecommercially available or are in use are treated in accordance with theinvention. Plant cultivars are understood to mean plants which have newproperties (“traits”) and have been obtained by conventional breeding,by mutagenesis or by recombinant DNA techniques. They can be cultivars,varieties, bio- or genotypes.

The method of treatment according to the invention can be used in thetreatment of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), e.g. plants orseeds. Genetically modified plants (or transgenic plants) are plants ofwhich a heterologous gene has been stably integrated into genome. Theexpression “heterologous gene” essentially means a gene which isprovided or assembled outside the plant and when introduced in thenuclear, chloroplastic or mitochondrial genome gives the transformedplant new or improved agronomic or other properties by expressing aprotein or polypeptide of interest or by downregulating or silencingother gene(s) which are present in the plant (using for example,antisense technology, cosuppression technology, RNAinterference—RNAi—technology or microRNA—miRNA—technology). Aheterologous gene that is located in the genome is also called atransgene. A transgene that is defined by its particular location in theplant genome is called a transformation or transgenic event.

Depending on the plant species or plant cultivars, their location andgrowth conditions (soils, climate, vegetation period, diet), thetreatment according to the invention may also result in superadditive(“synergistic”) effects. Thus, for example, reduced application ratesand/or a widening of the activity spectrum and/or an increase in theactivity of the active compounds and compositions which can be usedaccording to the invention, better plant growth, increased tolerance tohigh or low temperatures, increased tolerance to drought or to water orsoil salt content, increased flowering performance, easier harvesting,accelerated maturation, higher harvest yields, bigger fruits, largerplant height, greener leaf color, earlier flowering, higher qualityand/or a higher nutritional value of the harvested products, highersugar concentration within the fruits, better storage stability and/orprocessability of the harvested products are possible, which exceed theeffects which were actually to be expected.

At certain application rates, the mixtures or compositions according tothe invention may also have a strengthening effect in plants.Accordingly, they are also suitable for mobilizing the defense system ofthe plant against attack by harmful microorganisms or pests. This may,if appropriate, be one of the reasons of the enhanced activity of themixtures or compositions according to the invention, for example againstfungi. Plant-strengthening (resistance-inducing) substances are to beunderstood as meaning, in the present context, those substances orcombinations of substances which are capable of stimulating the defensesystem of plants in such a way that, when subsequently inoculated withharmful microorganisms or pests, the treated plants display asubstantial degree of resistance to these microorganisms. In the presentcase, harmful microorganisms or pests are to be understood as meaningphytopathogenic fungi, bacteria and viruses, insects, nematodes, mites,helminthes, arachnids. Thus, the mixtures or compositions according tothe invention can be employed for protecting plants against attack bythe abovementioned pathogens within a certain period of time after thetreatment. The period of time within which protection is effectedgenerally extends from 1 to 10 days, preferably 1 to 7 days, after thetreatment of the plants with the active compounds.

Plants and plant cultivars which are preferably to be treated accordingto the invention include all plants which have genetic material whichimpart particularly advantageous, useful traits to these plants (whetherobtained by breeding and/or biotechnological means).

Plants and plant cultivars which are also preferably to be treatedaccording to the invention are resistant against one or more bioticstresses, i.e. said plants show a better defense against animal andmicrobial pests, such as against nematodes, insects, mites,phytopathogenic fungi, bacteria, viruses and/or viroids.

Examples of nematode or insect resistant plants are described in e.g.U.S. patent applications Ser. Nos. 11/765,491, 11/765,494, 10/926,819,10/782,020, 12/032,479, 10/783,417, 10/782,096, 11/657,964, 12/192,904,11/396,808, 12/166,253, 12/166,239, 12/166,124, 12/166,209, 11/762,886,12/364,335, 11/763,947, 12/252,453, 12/209,354, 12/491,396, 12/497,221,12/644,632, 12/646,004, 12/701,058, 12/718,059, 12/721,595, 12/638,591.

Plants and plant cultivars which may also be treated according to theinvention are those plants which are resistant to one or more abioticstresses. Abiotic stress conditions may include, for example, drought,cold temperature exposure, heat exposure, osmotic stress, flooding,increased soil salinity, increased mineral exposure, ozone exposure,high light exposure, limited availability of nitrogen nutrients, limitedavailability of phosphorus nutrients, shade avoidance.

Plants and plant cultivars which may also be treated according to theinvention, are those plants characterized by enhanced yieldcharacteristics. Increased yield in said plants can be the result of,for example, improved plant physiology, growth and development, such aswater use efficiency, water retention efficiency, improved nitrogen use,enhanced carbon assimilation, improved photosynthesis, increasedgermination efficiency and accelerated maturation. Yield can furthermorebe affected by improved plant architecture (under stress and non-stressconditions), including but not limited to, early flowering, floweringcontrol for hybrid seed production, seedling vigor, plant size,internode number and distance, root growth, seed size, fruit size, podsize, pod or ear number, seed number per pod or ear, seed mass, enhancedseed filling, reduced seed dispersal, reduced pod dehiscence and lodgingresistance. Further yield traits include seed composition, such ascarbohydrate content, protein content, oil content and composition,nutritional value, reduction in anti-nutritional compounds, improvedprocessability and better storage stability.

Plants that may be treated according to the invention are hybrid plantsthat already express the characteristic of heterosis or hybrid vigorwhich results in generally higher yield, vigor, health and resistancetowards biotic and abiotic stresses). Such plants are typically made bycrossing an inbred male-sterile parent line (the female parent) withanother inbred male-fertile parent line (the male parent). Hybrid seedis typically harvested from the male sterile plants and sold to growers.Male sterile plants can sometimes (e.g. in corn) be produced bydetasseling, i.e. the mechanical removal of the male reproductive organs(or males flowers) to but, more typically, male sterility is the resultof genetic determinants in the plant genome. In that case, andespecially when seed is the desired product to be harvested from thehybrid plants it is typically useful to ensure that male fertility inthe hybrid plants is fully restored. This can be accomplished byensuring that the male parents have appropriate fertility restorer geneswhich are capable of restoring the male fertility in hybrid plants thatcontain the genetic determinants responsible for male-sterility. Geneticdeterminants for male sterility may be located in the cytoplasm.Examples of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) were for instance describedin Brassica species (WO 92/05251, WO 95/09910, WO 98/27806, WO05/002324, WO 06/021972 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,229,072). However, geneticdeterminants for male sterility can also be located in the nucleargenome. Male sterile plants can also be obtained by plant biotechnologymethods such as genetic engineering. A particularly useful means ofobtaining male-sterile plants is described in WO 89/10396 in which, forexample, a ribonuclease such as barnase is selectively expressed in thetapetum cells in the stamens. Fertility can then be restored byexpression in the tapetum cells of a ribonuclease inhibitor such asbarstar (e.g. WO 91/02069).

Plants or plant cultivars (obtained by plant biotechnology methods suchas genetic engineering) which may be treated according to the inventionare herbicide-tolerant plants, i.e. plants made tolerant to one or moregiven herbicides. Such plants can be obtained either by genetictransformation, or by selection of plants containing a mutationimparting such herbicide tolerance.

Herbicide-resistant plants are for example glyphosate-tolerant plants,i.e. plants made tolerant to the herbicide glyphosate or salts thereof.Plants can be made tolerant to glyphosate through different means. Forexample, glyphosate-tolerant plants can be obtained by transforming theplant with a gene encoding the enzyme 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphatesynthase (EPSPS). Examples of such EPSPS genes are the AroA gene (mutantCT7) of the bacterium Salmonella typhimurium (Science 1983, 221,370-371), the CP4 gene of the bacterium Agrobacterium sp. (Curr. TopicsPlant Physiol. 1992, 7, 139-145), the genes encoding a Petunia EPSPS(Science 1986, 233, 478-481), a Tomato EPSPS (J. Biol. Chem. 1988, 263,4280-4289), or an Eleusine EPSPS (WO 01/66704). It can also be a mutatedEPSPS as described in for example EP 0837944, WO 00/66746, WO 00/66747or WO 02/26995. Glyphosate-tolerant plants can also be obtained byexpressing a gene that encodes a glyphosate oxido-reductase enzyme asdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,776,760 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,463,175.Glyphosate-tolerant plants can also be obtained by expressing a genethat encodes a glyphosate acetyl transferase enzyme as described in forexample WO 02/036782, WO 03/092360, WO 2005/012515 and WO 2007/024782.Glyphosate-tolerant plants can also be obtained by selecting plantscontaining naturally-occurring mutations of the above-mentioned genes,as described in for example WO 01/024615 or WO 03/013226. Plantsexpressing EPSPS genes that confer glyphosate tolerance are described ine.g. U.S. patent applications Ser. Nos. 11/517,991, 10/739,610,12/139,408, 12/352,532, 11/312,866, 11/315,678, 12/421,292, 11/400,598,11/651,752, 11/681,285, 11/605,824, 12/468,205, 11/760,570, 11/762,526,11/769,327, 11/769,255, 11/943801 or 12/362,774. Plants comprising othergenes that confer glyphosate tolerance, such as decarboxylase genes, aredescribed in e.g. U.S. patent applications Ser. Nos. 11/588,811,11/185,342, 12/364,724, 11/185,560 or 12/423,926.

Other herbicide resistant plants are for example plants that are madetolerant to herbicides inhibiting the enzyme glutamine synthase, such asbialaphos, phosphinothricin or glufosinate. Such plants can be obtainedby expressing an enzyme detoxifying the herbicide or a mutant glutaminesynthase enzyme that is resistant to inhibition, e.g. described in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 11/760,602. One such efficient detoxifyingenzyme is an enzyme encoding a phosphinothricin acetyltransferase (suchas the bar or pat protein from Streptomyces species). Plants expressingan exogenous phosphinothricin acetyltransferase are for exampledescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,561,236; 5,648,477; 5,646,024; 5,273,894;5,637,489; 5,276,268; 5,739,082; 5,908,810 and 7,112,665.

Further herbicide-tolerant plants are also plants that are made tolerantto the herbicides inhibiting the enzyme hydroxyphenylpyruvatedioxygenase(HPPD). HPPD is an enzyme that catalyze the reaction in whichpara-hydroxyphenylpyruvate (HPP) is transformed into homogentisate.Plants tolerant to HPPD-inhibitors can be transformed with a geneencoding a naturally-occurring resistant HPPD enzyme, or a gene encodinga mutated or chimeric HPPD enzyme as described in WO 96/38567, WO99/24585, WO 99/24586, WO 09/144079, WO 02/046387, or U.S. Pat. No.6,768,044. Tolerance to HPPD-inhibitors can also be obtained bytransforming plants with genes encoding certain enzymes enabling theformation of homogentisate despite the inhibition of the native HPPDenzyme by the HPPD-inhibitor. Such plants and genes are described in WO99/34008 and WO 02/36787. Tolerance of plants to HPPD inhibitors canalso be improved by transforming plants with a gene encoding an enzymehaving prephenate deshydrogenase (PDH) activity in addition to a geneencoding an HPPD-tolerant enzyme, as described in WO 04/024928. Further,plants can be made more tolerant to HPPD-inhibitor herbicides by addinginto their genome a gene encoding an enzyme capable of metabolizing ordegrading HPPD inhibitors, such as the CYP450 enzymes shown in WO2007/103567 and WO 2008/150473.

Still further herbicide resistant plants are plants that are madetolerant to acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors. Known ALS-inhibitorsinclude, for example, sulfonylurea, imidazolinone, triazolopyrimidines,pryimidinyoxy(thio)benzoates, and/or sulfonylaminocarbonyltriazolinoneherbicides. Different mutations in the ALS enzyme (also known asacetohydroxyacid synthase, AHAS) are known to confer tolerance todifferent herbicides and groups of herbicides, as described for examplein Tranel and Wright (Weed Science 2002, 50, 700-712), but also, in U.S.Pat. Nos. 5,605,011, 5,378,824, 5,141,870, and 5,013,659. The productionof sulfonylurea-tolerant plants and imidazolinone-tolerant plants isdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,605,011; 5,013,659; 5,141,870; 5,767,361;5,731,180; 5,304,732; 4,761,373; 5,331,107; 5,928,937; and 5,378,824;and WO 96/33270. Other imidazolinone-tolerant plants are also describedin for example WO 2004/040012, WO 2004/106529, WO 2005/020673, WO2005/093093, WO 2006/007373, WO 2006/015376, WO 2006/024351, and WO2006/060634. Further sulfonylurea- and imidazolinone-tolerant plants arealso described in for example WO 2007/024782 and U.S. Patent Application61/288958.

Other plants tolerant to imidazolinone and/or sulfonylurea can beobtained by induced mutagenesis, selection in cell cultures in thepresence of the herbicide or mutation breeding as described for examplefor soybeans in U.S. Pat. No. 5,084,082, for rice in WO 97/41218, forsugar beet in U.S. Pat. No. 5,773,702 and WO 99/057965, for lettuce inU.S. Pat. No. 5,198,599, or for sunflower in WO 01/065922.

Other plants tolerant to imidazolinone and/or sulfonylurea can beobtained by induced mutagenesis, selection in cell cultures in thepresence of the herbicide or mutation breeding as described for examplefor soybeans in U.S. Pat. No. 5,084,082, for rice in WO 97/41218, forsugar beet in U.S. Pat. No. 5,773,702 and WO 99/057965, for lettuce inU.S. Pat. No. 5,198,599, or for sunflower in WO 01/065922.

Plants or plant cultivars (obtained by plant biotechnology methods suchas genetic engineering) which may also be treated according to theinvention are insect-resistant transgenic plants, i.e. plants maderesistant to attack by certain target insects. Such plants can beobtained by genetic transformation, or by selection of plants containinga mutation imparting such insect resistance.

An “insect-resistant transgenic plant”, as used herein, includes anyplant containing at least one transgene comprising a coding sequenceencoding:

-   -   1) an insecticidal crystal protein from Bacillus thuringiensis        or an insecticidal portion thereof, such as the insecticidal        crystal proteins listed by Crickmore et al. (1998, Microbiology        and Molecular Biology Reviews, 62: 807-813), updated by        Crickmore et al. (2005) at the Bacillus thuringiensis toxin        nomenclature, online at:        http://www.lifesci.sussex.ac.uk/Home/Neil_Crickmore/Bt/), or        insecticidal portions thereof, e.g., proteins of the Cry protein        classes Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac, Cry1B, Cry1C, Cry1D, Cry1F, Cry2Ab,        Cry3Aa, or Cry3Bb or insecticidal portions thereof (e.g. EP-A 1        999 141 and WO 2007/107302), or such proteins encoded by        synthetic genes as e.g. described in and U.S. patent application        Ser. No. 12/249,016 ; or    -   2) a crystal protein from Bacillus thuringiensis or a portion        thereof which is insecticidal in the presence of a second other        crystal protein from Bacillus thuringiensis or a portion        thereof, such as the binary toxin made up of the Cry34 and Cry35        crystal proteins (Nat. Biotechnol. 2001, 19, 668-72; Applied        Environm. Microbiol. 2006, 71, 1765-1774) or the binary toxin        made up of the Cry1A or Cry1F proteins and the Cry2Aa or Cry2Ab        or Cry2Ae proteins (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/214,022        and EP-A 2 300 618); or    -   3) a hybrid insecticidal protein comprising parts of different        insecticidal crystal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis, such        as a hybrid of the proteins of 1) above or a hybrid of the        proteins of 2) above, e.g., the Cry1A.105 protein produced by        corn event MON89034 (WO 2007/027777); or    -   4) a protein of any one of 1) to 3) above wherein some,        particularly 1 to 10, amino acids have been replaced by another        amino acid to obtain a higher insecticidal activity to a target        insect species, and/or to expand the range of target insect        species affected, and/or because of changes introduced into the        encoding DNA during cloning or transformation, such as the        Cry3Bb1 protein in corn events MON863 or MON88017, or the Cry3A        protein in corn event MIR604; or    -   5) an insecticidal secreted protein from Bacillus thuringiensis        or Bacillus cereus, or an insecticidal portion thereof, such as        the vegetative insecticidal (VIP) proteins listed at:        http://www.lifesci.sussex.ac.uldhome/Neil_Crickmore/Bt/vip.html,        e.g., proteins from the VIP3Aa protein class; or    -   6) a secreted protein from Bacillus thuringiensis or Bacillus        cereus which is insecticidal in the presence of a second        secreted protein from Bacillus thuringiensis or B. cereus, such        as the binary toxin made up of the VIP1A and VIP2A proteins (WO        94/21795); or    -   7) a hybrid insecticidal protein comprising parts from different        secreted proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis or Bacillus        cereus, such as a hybrid of the proteins in 1) above or a hybrid        of the proteins in 2) above; or    -   8) a protein of any one of 5) to 7) above wherein some,        particularly 1 to 10, amino acids have been replaced by another        amino acid to obtain a higher insecticidal activity to a target        insect species, and/or to expand the range of target insect        species affected, and/or because of changes introduced into the        encoding DNA during cloning or transformation (while still        encoding an insecticidal protein), such as the VIP3Aa protein in        cotton event COT102; or    -   9) a secreted protein from Bacillus thuringiensis or Bacillus        cereus which is insecticidal in the presence of a crystal        protein from Bacillus thuringiensis, such as the binary toxin        made up of VIP3 and Cry1A or Cry1F (U.S. Patent Applications        61/126083 and 61/195019), or the binary toxin made up of the        VIP3 protein and the Cry2Aa or Cry2Ab or Cry2Ae proteins (U.S.        patent application Ser. No. 12/214,022 and EP-A 2 300 618).    -   10) a protein of 9) above wherein some, particularly 1 to 10,        amino acids have been replaced by another amino acid to obtain a        higher insecticidal activity to a target insect species, and/or        to expand the range of target insect species affected, and/or        because of changes introduced into the encoding DNA during        cloning or transformation (while still encoding an insecticidal        protein)

Of course, an insect-resistant transgenic plant, as used herein, alsoincludes any plant comprising a combination of genes encoding theproteins of any one of the above classes 1 to 10. In one embodiment, aninsect-resistant plant contains more than one transgene encoding aprotein of any one of the above classes 1 to 10, to expand the range oftarget insect species affected when using different proteins directed atdifferent target insect species, or to delay insect resistancedevelopment to the plants by using different proteins insecticidal tothe same target insect species but having a different mode of action,such as binding to different receptor binding sites in the insect.

An “insect-resistant transgenic plant”, as used herein, further includesany plant containing at least one transgene comprising a sequenceproducing upon expression a double-stranded RNA which upon ingestion bya plant insect pest inhibits the growth of this insect pest, asdescribed e.g. in WO 2007/080126, WO 2006/129204, WO 2007/074405, WO2007/080127 and WO 2007/035650.

Plants or plant cultivars (obtained by plant biotechnology methods suchas genetic engineering) which may also be treated according to theinvention are tolerant to abiotic stresses. Such plants can be obtainedby genetic transformation, or by selection of plants containing amutation imparting such stress resistance. Particularly useful stresstolerance plants include:

-   -   1) plants which contain a transgene capable of reducing the        expression and/or the activity of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase        (PARP) gene in the plant cells or plants as described in WO        00/04173, WO 2006/045633, EP-A 1 807 519, or EP-A 2 018 431.    -   2) plants which contain a stress tolerance enhancing transgene        capable of reducing the expression and/or the activity of the        PARG encoding genes of the plants or plants cells, as described        e.g. in WO 2004/090140.    -   3) plants which contain a stress tolerance enhancing transgene        coding for a plant-functional enzyme of the nicotineamide        adenine dinucleotide salvage synthesis pathway including        nicotinamidase, nicotinate phosphoribosyltransferase, nicotinic        acid mononucleotide adenyl transferase, nicotinamide adenine        dinucleotide synthetase or nicotine amide        phosphorybosyltransferase as described e.g. in EP-A 1 794 306,        WO 2006/133827, WO 2007/107326, EP-A 1 999 263, or WO        2007/107326.

Plants or plant cultivars (obtained by plant biotechnology methods suchas genetic engineering) which may also be treated according to theinvention show altered quantity, quality and/or storage-stability of theharvested product and/or altered properties of specific ingredients ofthe harvested product such as:

-   -   1) transgenic plants which synthesize a modified starch, which        in its physical-chemical characteristics, in particular the        amylose content or the amylose/amylopectin ratio, the degree of        branching, the average chain length, the side chain        distribution, the viscosity behaviour, the gelling strength, the        starch grain size and/or the starch grain morphology, is changed        in comparison with the synthesised starch in wild type plant        cells or plants, so that this is better suited for special        applications. Said transgenic plants synthesizing a modified        starch are disclosed, for example, in EP-A 0 571 427, WO        95/04826, EP-A 0 719 338, WO 96/15248, WO 96/19581, WO 96/27674,        WO 97/11188, WO 97/26362, WO 97/32985, WO 97/42328, WO 97/44472,        WO 97/45545, WO 98/27212, WO 98/40503, WO 99/58688, WO 99/58690,        WO 99/58654, WO 00/08184, WO 00/08185, WO 00/08175, WO 00/28052,        WO 00/77229, WO 01/12782, WO 01/12826, WO 02/101059, WO        03/071860, WO 04/056999, WO 05/030942, WO 2005/030941, WO        2005/095632, WO 2005/095617, WO 2005/095619, WO 2005/095618, WO        2005/123927, WO 2006/018319, WO 2006/103107, WO 2006/108702, WO        2007/009823, WO 00/22140, WO 2006/063862, WO 2006/072603, WO        02/034923, WO 2008/017518, WO 2008/080630, WO 2008/080631, EP        07090007.1, WO 2008/090008, WO 01/14569, WO 02/79410, WO        03/33540, WO 2004/078983, WO 01/19975, WO 95/26407, WO 96/34968,        WO 98/20145, WO 99/12950, WO 99/66050, WO 99/53072, U.S. Pat.        No. 6,734,341, WO 00/11192, WO 98/22604, WO 98/32326, WO        01/98509, WO 01/98509, WO 2005/002359, U.S. Pat. No. 5,824,790,        U.S. Pat. No. 6,013,861, WO 94/04693, WO 94/09144, WO 94/11520,        WO 95/35026, WO 97/20936, WO 2010/012796, WO 2010/003701,    -   2) transgenic plants which synthesize non starch carbohydrate        polymers or which synthesize non starch carbohydrate polymers        with altered properties in comparison to wild type plants        without genetic modification. Examples are plants producing        polyfructose, especially of the inulin and levan-type, as        disclosed in EP-A 0 663 956, WO 96/01904, WO 96/21023, WO        98/39460, and WO 99/24593, plants producing alpha-1,4-glucans as        disclosed in WO 95/31553, US 2002031826, U.S. Pat. No.        6,284,479, U.S. Pat. No. 5,712,107, WO 97/47806, WO 97/47807, WO        97/47808 and WO 00/14249, plants producing alpha-1,6 branched        alpha-1,4-glucans, as disclosed in WO 00/73422, plants producing        alternan, as disclosed in e.g. WO 00/47727, WO 00/73422, EP        06077301.7, U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,975 and EP-A 0 728 213,    -   3) transgenic plants which produce hyaluronan, as for example        disclosed in WO 2006/032538, WO 2007/039314, WO 2007/039315, WO        2007/039316, JP-A 2006-304779, and WO 2005/012529.    -   4) transgenic plants or hybrid plants, such as onions with        characteristics such as ‘high soluble solids content’, ‘low        pungency’ (LP) and/or ‘long storage’ (LS), as described in U.S.        patent applications Ser. Nos. 12/020,360 and 61/054,026.

Plants or plant cultivars (that can be obtained by plant biotechnologymethods such as genetic engineering) which may also be treated accordingto the invention are plants, such as cotton plants, with altered fibercharacteristics. Such plants can be obtained by genetic transformation,or by selection of plants contain a mutation imparting such alteredfiber characteristics and include:

-   -   a) Plants, such as cotton plants, containing an altered form of        cellulose synthase genes as described in WO 98/00549.    -   b) Plants, such as cotton plants, containing an altered form of        rsw2 or rsw3 homologous nucleic acids as described in WO        2004/053219.    -   c) Plants, such as cotton plants, with increased expression of        sucrose phosphate synthase as described in WO 01/17333.    -   d) Plants, such as cotton plants, with increased expression of        sucrose synthase as described in WO 02/45485.    -   e) Plants, such as cotton plants, wherein the timing of the        plasmodesmatal gating at the basis of the fiber to cell is        altered, e.g. through downregulation of fiber-selective        β-1,3-glucanase as described in WO 2005/017157, or as described        in WO 2009/143995.    -   f) Plants, such as cotton plants, having fibers with altered        reactivity, e.g. through the expression of        N-acetylglucosaminetransferase gene including nodC and chitin        synthase genes as described in WO 2006/136351.

Plants or plant cultivars (that can be obtained by plant biotechnologymethods such as genetic engineering) which may also be treated accordingto the invention are plants, such as oilseed rape or related Brassicaplants, with altered oil profile characteristics. Such plants can beobtained by genetic transformation, or by selection of plants contain amutation imparting such altered oil profile characteristics and include:

-   -   a) Plants, such as oilseed rape plants, producing oil having a        high oleic acid content as described e.g. in U.S. Pat. No.        5,969,169, U.S. Pat. No. 5,840,946 or U.S. Pat. No. 6,323,392 or        U.S. Pat. No. 6,063,947    -   b) Plants such as oilseed rape plants, producing oil having a        low linolenic acid content as described in U.S. Pat. No.        6,270,828, U.S. Pat. No. 6,169,190, or U.S. Pat. No. 5,965,755    -   c) Plant such as oilseed rape plants, producing oil having a low        level of saturated fatty acids as described e.g. in U.S. Pat.        No. 5,434,283 or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/668303

Plants or plant cultivars (that can be obtained by plant biotechnologymethods such as genetic engineering) which may also be treated accordingto the invention are plants, such as oilseed rape or related Brassicaplants, with altered seed shattering characteristics. Such plants can beobtained by genetic transformation, or by selection of plants contain amutation imparting such altered seed shattering characteristics andinclude plants such as oilseed rape plants with delayed or reduced seedshattering as described in U.S. Patent Application 61/135,230, WO2009/068313 and WO 2010/006732.

Plants or plant cultivars (that can be obtained by plant biotechnologymethods such as genetic engineering) which may also be treated accordingto the invention are plants, such as Tobacco plants, with alteredpost-translational protein modification patterns, for example asdescribed in WO 2010/121818 and WO 2010/145846.

Particularly useful transgenic plants which may be treated according tothe invention are plants containing transformation events, orcombination of transformation events, that are the subject of petitionsfor non-regulated status, in the United States of America, to the Animaland Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the United StatesDepartment of Agriculture (USDA) whether such petitions are granted orare still pending. At any time this information is readily availablefrom APHIS (4700 River Road, Riverdale, Md. 20737, USA), for instance onits internet site (URL http://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/not_reg.html). Onthe filing date of this application the petitions for nonregulatedstatus that were pending with APHIS or granted by APHIS were those whichcontains the following information:

-   -   Petition: the identification number of the petition. Technical        descriptions of the transformation events can be found in the        individual petition documents which are obtainable from APHIS,        for example on the APHIS website, by reference to this petition        number. These descriptions are herein incorporated by reference.    -   Extension of Petition: reference to a previous petition for        which an extension is requested.    -   Institution: the name of the entity submitting the petition.    -   Regulated article: the plant species concerned.    -   Transgenic phenotype: the trait conferred to the plants by the        transformation event.    -   Transformation event or line: the name of the event or events        (sometimes also designated as lines or lines) for which        nonregulated status is requested.    -   APHIS documents: various documents published by APHIS in        relation to the Petition and which can be requested with APHIS.

Additional particularly useful plants containing single transformationevents or combinations of transformation events are listed for examplein the databases from various national or regional regulatory agencies(see for example http://gmoinfo.jrc.it/gmp_browse.aspx andhttp://www.agbios.com/dbase.php).

Particularly useful transgenic plants which may be treated according tothe invention are plants containing transformation events, or acombination of transformation events, and that are listed for example inthe databases for various national or regional regulatory agenciesincluding Event 1143-14A (cotton, insect control, not deposited,described in WO 2006/128569); Event 1143-51B (cotton, insect control,not deposited, described in WO 2006/128570); Event 1445 (cotton,herbicide tolerance, not deposited, described in US-A 2002-120964 or WO02/034946); Event 17053 (rice, herbicide tolerance, deposited asPTA-9843, described in WO 2010/117737); Event 17314 (rice, herbicidetolerance, deposited as PTA-9844, described in WO 2010/117735); Event281-24-236 (cotton, insect control—herbicide tolerance, deposited asPTA-6233, described in WO 2005/103266 or US-A 2005-216969); Event3006-210-23 (cotton, insect control—herbicide tolerance, deposited asPTA-6233, described in US-A 2007-143876 or WO 2005/103266); Event 3272(corn, quality trait, deposited as PTA-9972, described in WO 2006/098952or US-A 2006-230473); Event 40416 (corn, insect control—herbicidetolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-11508, described in WO 2011/075593);Event 43A47 (corn, insect control—herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCCPTA-11509, described in WO 2011/075595); Event 5307 (corn, insectcontrol, deposited as ATCC PTA-9561, described in WO 2010/077816); EventASR-368 (bent grass, herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-4816,described in US-A 2006-162007 or WO 2004/053062); Event B16 (corn,herbicide tolerance, not deposited, described in US-A 2003-126634);Event BPS-CV127-9 (soybean, herbicide tolerance, deposited as NCIMB No.41603, described in WO 2010/080829); Event CE43-67B (cotton, insectcontrol, deposited as DSM ACC2724, described in US-A 2009-217423 orWO2006/128573); Event CE44-69D (cotton, insect control, not deposited,described in US-A 2010-0024077); Event CE44-69D (cotton, insect control,not deposited, described in WO 2006/128571); Event CE46-02A (cotton,insect control, not deposited, described in WO 2006/128572); EventCOT102 (cotton, insect control, not deposited, described in US-A2006-130175 or WO 2004/039986); Event COT202 (cotton, insect control,not deposited, described in US-A 2007-067868 or WO 2005/054479); EventCOT203 (cotton, insect control, not deposited, described in WO2005/054480); Event DAS40278 (corn, herbicide tolerance, deposited asATCC PTA-10244, described in WO 2011/022469); Event DAS-59122-7 (corn,insect control—herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA 11384,described in US-A 2006-070139); Event DAS-59132 (corn, insectcontrol—herbicide tolerance, not deposited, described in WO2009/100188); Event DAS68416 (soybean, herbicide tolerance, deposited asATCC PTA-10442, described in WO 2011/066384 or WO 2011/066360); EventDP-098140-6 (corn, herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-8296,described in US-A 2009-137395 or WO 2008/112019); Event DP-305423-1(soybean, quality trait, not deposited, described in US-A 2008-312082 orWO 2008/054747); Event DP-32138-1 (corn, hybridization system, depositedas ATCC PTA-9158, described in US-A 2009-0210970 or WO 2009/103049);Event DP-356043-5 (soybean, herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCCPTA-8287, described in US-A 2010-0184079 or WO 2008/002872); Event EE-1(brinjal, insect control, not deposited, described in WO 2007/091277);Event FI117 (corn, herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC 209031,described in US-A 2006-059581 or WO 98/044140); Event GA21 (corn,herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC 209033, described in US-A2005-086719 or WO 98/044140); Event GG25 (corn, herbicide tolerance,deposited as ATCC 209032, described in US-A 2005-188434 or WO98/044140); Event GHB119 (cotton, insect control—herbicide tolerance,deposited as ATCC PTA-8398, described in WO 2008/151780); Event GHB614(cotton, herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-6878, described inUS-A 2010-050282 or WO 2007/017186); Event GJ11 (corn, herbicidetolerance, deposited as ATCC 209030, described in US-A 2005-188434 or WO98/044140); Event GM RZ13 (sugar beet, virus resistance, deposited asNUMB-41601, described in WO 2010/076212); Event H7-1 (sugar beet,herbicide tolerance, deposited as NCIMB 41158 or NCIMB 41159, describedin US-A 2004-172669 or WO 2004/074492); Event JOPLIN1 (wheat, diseasetolerance, not deposited, described in US-A 2008-064032); Event LL27(soybean, herbicide tolerance, deposited as NCIMB41658, described in WO2006/108674 or US-A 2008-320616); Event LL55 (soybean, herbicidetolerance, deposited as NCIMB 41660, described in WO 2006/108675 or US-A2008-196127); Event LLcotton25 (cotton, herbicide tolerance, depositedas ATCC PTA-3343, described in WO 03/013224 or US-A 2003-097687); EventLLRICE06 (rice, herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC-23352, describedin U.S. Pat. No. 6,468,747 or WO 00/026345); Event LLRICE601 (rice,herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-2600, described in US-A2008-2289060 or WO 00/026356); Event LY038 (corn, quality trait,deposited as ATCC PTA-5623, described in US-A 2007-028322 or WO2005/061720); Event MIR162 (corn, insect control, deposited as PTA-8166,described in US-A 2009-300784 or WO 2007/142840); Event MIR604 (corn,insect control, not deposited, described in US-A 2008-167456 or WO2005/103301); Event MON15985 (cotton, insect control, deposited as ATCCPTA-2516, described in US-A 2004-250317 or WO 02/100163); Event MON810(corn, insect control, not deposited, described in US-A 2002-102582);Event MON863 (corn, insect control, deposited as ATCC PTA-2605,described in WO 2004/011601 or US-A 2006-095986); Event MON87427 (corn,pollination control, deposited as ATCC PTA-7899, described in WO2011/062904); Event MON87460 (corn, stress tolerance, deposited as ATCCPTA-8910, described in WO 2009/111263 or US-A 2011-0138504); EventMON87701 (soybean, insect control, deposited as ATCC PTA-8194, describedin US-A 2009-130071 or WO 2009/064652); Event MON87705 (soybean, qualitytrait—herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-9241, described in US-A2010-0080887 or WO 2010/037016); Event MON87708 (soybean, herbicidetolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA9670, described in WO 2011/034704);Event MON87754 (soybean, quality trait, deposited as ATCC PTA-9385,described in WO 2010/024976); Event MON87769 (soybean, quality trait,deposited as ATCC PTA-8911, described in US-A 2011-0067141 or WO2009/102873); Event MON88017 (corn, insect control—herbicide tolerance,deposited as ATCC PTA-5582, described in US-A 2008-028482 or WO2005/059103); Event MON88913 (cotton, herbicide tolerance, deposited asATCC PTA-4854, described in WO 2004/072235 or US-A 2006-059590); EventMON89034 (corn, insect control, deposited as ATCC PTA-7455, described inWO 2007/140256 or US-A 2008-260932); Event MON89788 (soybean, herbicidetolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-6708, described in US-A 2006-282915 orWO 2006/130436); Event MS11 (oilseed rape, pollination control—herbicidetolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-850 or PTA-2485, described in WO01/031042); Event MS8 (oilseed rape, pollination control—herbicidetolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-730, described in WO 01/041558 or US-A2003-188347); Event NK603 (corn, herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCCPTA-2478, described in US-A 2007-292854); Event PE-7 (rice, insectcontrol, not deposited, described in WO 2008/114282); Event RF3 (oilseedrape, pollination control—herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCCPTA-730, described in WO 01/041558 or US-A 2003-188347); Event RT73(oilseed rape, herbicide tolerance, not deposited, described in WO02/036831 or US-A 2008-070260); Event T227-1 (sugar beet, herbicidetolerance, not deposited, described in WO 02/44407 or US-A 2009-265817);Event T25 (corn, herbicide tolerance, not deposited, described in US-A2001-029014 or WO 01/051654); Event T304-40 (cotton, insectcontrol—herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-8171, described inUS-A 2010-077501 or WO 2008/122406); Event T342-142 (cotton, insectcontrol, not deposited, described in WO 2006/128568); Event TC1507(corn, insect control—herbicide tolerance, not deposited, described inUS-A 2005-039226 or WO 2004/099447); Event VIP1034 (corn, insectcontrol—herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-3925., described inWO 03/052073), Event 32316 (corn, insect control—herbicidetolerance,deposited as PTA-11507, described in WO 2011/084632), Event4114 (corn, insect control—herbicide tolerance,deposited as PTA-11506,described in WO 2011/084621).

Very particularly useful transgenic plants which may be treatedaccording to the invention are plants containing transformation events,or a combination of transformation events, and that are listed forexample in the databases for various national or regional regulatoryagencies including Event BPS-CV127-9 (soybean, herbicide tolerance,deposited as NCIMB No. 41603, described in WO 2010/080829); EventDAS68416 (soybean, herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-10442,described in WO 2011/066384 or WO 2011/066360); Event DP-356043-5(soybean, herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-8287, described inUS-A 2010-0184079 or WO 2008/002872); Event EE-1 (brinjal, insectcontrol, not deposited, described in WO 2007/091277); Event FI117 (corn,herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC 209031, described in US-A2006-059581 or WO 98/044140); Event GA21 (corn, herbicide tolerance,deposited as ATCC 209033, described in US-A 2005-086719 or WO98/044140), Event LL27 (soybean, herbicide tolerance, deposited asNCIMB41658, described in WO 2006/108674 or US-A 2008-320616); Event LL55(soybean, herbicide tolerance, deposited as NCIMB 41660, described in WO2006/108675 or US-A 2008-196127); Event MON87701 (soybean, insectcontrol, deposited as ATCC PTA-8194, described in US-A 2009-130071 or WO2009/064652); Event MON87705 (soybean, quality trait - herbicidetolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-9241, described in US-A 2010-0080887 orWO 2010/037016); Event MON87708 (soybean, herbicide tolerance, depositedas ATCC PTA9670, described in WO 2011/034704); Event MON87754 (soybean,quality trait, deposited as ATCC PTA-9385, described in WO 2010/024976);Event MON87769 (soybean, quality trait, deposited as ATCC PTA-8911,described in US-A 2011-0067141 or WO 2009/102873); Event MON89788(soybean, herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-6708, described inUS-A 2006-282915 or WO 2006/130436).

Particularly preferred is transgenic soybean.

Application Rates and Timing

When using the inventive mixtures or compositions as fungicides, theapplication rates can be varied within a relatively wide range,depending on the kind of application. The application rate of themixtures or compositions is

-   -   in the case of treatment of plant parts, for example leaves:        from 0.1 to 10 000 g/ha, preferably from 10 to 1000 g/ha, more        preferably from 10 to 800 g/ha, even more preferably from 50 to        300 g/ha (in the case of application by watering or dripping, it        is even possible to reduce the application rate, especially when        inert substrates such as rockwool or perlite are used);    -   in the case of seed treatment: from 2 to 200 g per 100 kg of        seed, preferably from 3 to 150 g per 100 kg of seed, more        preferably from 2.5 to 25 g per 100 kg of seed, even more        preferably from 2.5 to 12.5 g per 100 kg of seed;    -   in the case of soil treatment: from 0.1 to 10 000 g/ha,        preferably from 1 to 5000 g/ha. These application rates are        merely by way of example and are not limiting for the purposes        of the invention.

The inventive mixtures or compositions can thus be used to protectplants from attack by the pathogens mentioned for a certain period oftime after treatment. The period for which protection is providedextends generally for 1 to 28 days, preferably for 1 to 14 days, morepreferably for 1 to 10 days, most preferably for 1 to 7 days, after thetreatment of the plants with the mixtures or compositions, or for up to200 days after a seed treatment.

The method of treatment according to the invention also provides the useor application of compounds according to formula (I) and the fungicidesselected from carboxamides and non-carboxamides in a simultanous,separate or sequential manner If the single active ingredients areapplied in a sequential manner, i.e. at different times, they areapplied one after the other within a reasonably short period, such as afew hours or days. Preferably the order of applying the compoundsaccording to formula (I) and the fungicides selected from carboxamidesand non-carboxamides is not essential for working the present invention.

The plants listed can particularly advantageously be treated inaccordance with the invention with the the inventive mixtures orcompositions. The preferred ranges stated above for the mixtures orcompositions also apply to the treatment of these plants. Particularemphasis is given to the treatment of plants with the mixtures orcompositions specifically mentioned in the present text.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in the combinationor composition according to the invention, the compound ratio A/B may beadvantageously chosen so as to produce a synergistic effect. The termsynergistic effect is understood to mean in particular that defined byColby in an article entitled “Calculation of the synergistic andantagonistic responses of herbicide combinations” Weeds, (1967), 15,pages 20-22.

The latter article mentions the formula:

$E = {X + Y - \frac{XY}{100}}$

wherein E represents the expected percentage of inhibition of the pestfor the combination of the two compounds at defined doses (for exampleequal to x and y respectively), X is the percentage of inhibitionobserved for the pest by compound (A) at a defined dose (equal to x), Yis the percentage of inhibition observed for the pest by compound (B) ata defined dose (equal to y). When the percentage of inhibition observedfor the combination is greater than E, there is a synergistic effect.

The term “synergistic effect” also means the effect defined byapplication of the Tammes method, “Isoboles, a graphic representation ofsynergism in pesticides”, Netherlands Journal of Plant Pathology,70(1964), pages 73-80.

A synergistic effect in fungicides is always present when the fungicidalaction of the active compound combinations exceeds the expected actionof the active compounds.

The expected fcidal action for a given combination of two or threeactive compounds can be calculated as follows, according to S. R. Colby(“Calculating Synergistic and Antagonistic Responses of Herbicide toCombinations”, Weeds 1967, 15, 20-22):

If

X is the efficacy when employing active compound A at an applicationrate of m g/ha,

Y is the efficacy when employing active compound B at an applicationrate of n g/ha and

E is the efficacy when employing active compounds A and B at applicationrates of m and n g/ha,

then E=X+Y−(X*Y)/100.

Here, the efficacy is determined in %. 0% means an efficacy whichcorresponds to that of the control, whereas an efficacy of 100% meansthat no infection is observed.

If the actual fungicidal action exceeds the calculated value, the actionof the combination is superadditive, i.e. a synergistic effect ispresent. In this case, the actually observed efficacy must exceed thevalue calculated using the above formula for the expected efficacy (E).

The invention is illustrated by the examples below, however, theinvention is not limited to the examples:

EXAMPLE

Phakopsora Test (Soybean)/Seed Treatment

The test is performed under greenhouse conditions.

Soy bean seeds, treated with the active compound or compoundcombinations, solved in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidon and diluted with water tothe desired dosages, were sown in 6*6 cm pots containing 4 cm of a 1:1mix of steamed field soil and sand.

The plants were grown at 22° C. and 90% relative humidity in agreenhouse chamber. 21 days old plants were inoculated with an aqueousspore suspension of the causal agent of soybean rust (Phakopsorapachyrhizi) and stay for 24 h without light in an incubation cabinet atapproximately 24° C. and a relative atmospheric humidity of 95%. Theplants remain in the incubation cabinet at approximately 24° C. and arelative atmospheric humidity of approximately 80% and a day/nightinterval of 12 h.

Assessment consisted of evaluation of infected leaf area per plant. 0%means an efficacy which corresponds to that of the control, while anefficacy of 100% means that no disease is observed.

The table below clearly shows that the observed activity of the activecompound combination according to the invention is greater than thecalculated activity, i.e. a synergistic effect is present.

TABLE Phakopsora test (soybean)/seed treatment Application rate ofactive compound Active in ppm Efficacy in % compounds a.i. found*calc.** (I-1) 3-(difluoromethyl)- 25 25 1-methyl-N-(1,1,3- trimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H- inden-4-yl)- 1H-pyrazole-4- carboxamide 2.2cyantraniliprole 0.5 0 2.5 1-(3-chloropyridin-2-yl)- 2.5 13N-[4-cyano-2-methyl-6- (methylcarbamoyl)phenyl]-3-{[5-(trifluoromethyl)- 2H-tetrazol-2- yl]methyl}-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide (I-1) + 2.2 50:1 25 + 0.5 50 25 (I-1) + 2.5  2:1 5 + 2.5 50 13 *found = activity found **calc. = activity calculatedusing Colby's formula

1. A composition, comprising (1) at least one compound of formula (I)

wherein R¹ represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group and R²represents a methyl group, a difluoromethyl group or a trifluoromethylgroup; and (2) at least insecticide selected from the group consistingChlorantraniliprole (2.1), Cyantraniliprole (2.2), Flubendiamide (2.3),1-(3-chloropyridin-2-yl)-N-[4-cyano-2-methyl-6-(methylcarbamoyl)phenyl]-3-{[5-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-tetrazol-1-yl]methyl}-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide(2.4),1-(3-chloropyridin-2-yl)-N-[4-cyano-2-methyl-6-(methylcarbamoyl)phenyl]-3-{[5-(trifluoromethyl)-2H-tetrazol-2-yl]methyl}-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide (2.5),N-[2-(tert-butylcarbamoyl)-4-cyano-6-methylphenyl]-1-(3-chloropyridin-2-yl)-3-{[5-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-tetrazol-1-yl]methyl}-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide(2.6),N-[2-(tert-butylcarbamoyl)-4-cyano-6-methylphenyl]-1-(3-chloropyridin-2-yl)-3-{[5-(trifluoromethyl)-2H-tetrazol-2-yl]methyl}-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide(2.7), Flupyradifurone (2.8),3-bromo-N-{2-bromo-4-chloro-6-[(1-cyclopropylethyl)carbamoyl]phenyl}-1-(3-chloropyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide (2.9),1-{2-fluoro-4-methyl-5-[(2,2,2-trifluorethyl)sulfinyl]phenyl}-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-amine (2.10),1-{2-fluoro-4-methyl-5-[(R)-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)sulfinyl]phenyl}-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-amine(2.11);1-{2-fluoro-4-methyl-5-[(S)-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)sulfinyl]phenyl}-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-amine(2.12).
 2. A composition according to claim 1, whereby the compound offormula (I) is represented by one of the compounds (I-1) to (I-5):


3. The composition according to claim 1, whereby the compound of formula(I-1) is represented by formula (I-(R))

wherein R¹ represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group and R²represents a methyl group, a difluoromethyl group or a trifluoromethylgroup.
 4. The composition according to claim 1, whereby the compound offormula (I-1) is represented by formula (I-(S))

wherein R¹ represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group and R²represents a methyl group, a difluoromethyl group or a trifluoromethylgroup.
 5. A method for controlling harmful microorganisms or pests,comprising contacting said microorganisms or pests and/or a habitatthereof with a composition according to claim
 1. 6. A method fortreating seeds, comprising contacting said seeds with a compositionaccording to claim
 1. 7. A process for preparing a composition,comprising mixing a composition according to claim 1 4 with an extender,a surfactant or a combination thereof.
 8. A seed treated with acomposition according to claim
 1. 9. A process according to claim 7,wherein said composition comprises a synergistically effective mixture.